Artificial heart newer versions, such as the Heartmate II, developed by The Texas Heart Institute of Houston, provide continuous flow. These pumps (which may be centrifugal or axial flow) are smaller and potentially more durable and last longer than the current generation of total heart replacement pumps. Another major advantage of a VAD is that the patient keeps the natural heart, which may still function for temporary back-up support if the mechanical pump were to stop. This may provide enough support to keep the patient alive until a solution to the problem is implemented. In August 2006, an artificial heart was implanted
Ray Liotta win in "Bee Movie"). Liotta starred in the 2006 CBS television series "Smith", which was pulled from the schedule after three episodes, and in 2012, Liotta appeared as himself in a purely vocal role for the "What a Croc!" episode of the Disney Channel comedy series "Phineas & Ferb". Liotta played the father of drug dealer George Jung in the 2001 Johnny Depp film "Blow" and, in the following year, appeared as Detective Lieutenant Henry Oak in the Joe Carnahan-directed film "Narc", a role that led to an Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards nomination