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 In 1998, he received critical praise for his performance in "Phoenix" playing a compulsive gambler. In addition to his film roles, Liotta portrayed singer Frank Sinatra in the 1998 TV movie "The Rat Pack" (for which he received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination), provided the voice of Tommy Vercetti for the 2002 video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City", and appeared in the television drama "ER" in 2004, playing Charlie Metcalf in the episode "Time of Death". The "ER" role earned Liotta an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (Liotta later spoofed himself and his Emmy