Franz Freudenthal  is a Pediatric cardiologist that with his unique invention- a device born from traditional Bolivian loom weaving (knitted from threads of high-tech alloy by indigenous craftswomen), has saved and mend the lives of children from congenital heart defects across the world.

"The most complex problems in our time can be solved with simple techniques, if we are able to dream." 

Dr. Freudenthal gives all credit to his grandmother, Dr. Ruth Tichauer, who encouraged him to see beyond any limitation; and taught him that the key to cross from dreams to reality is creativity.

That why after becoming a Medical student, he decided he needed to dedicated his life to find a solution to the problem that one of every hundred children born worldwide has some kind of heart disease.

He states that this problems in the heart come way back from the pregnancy, being the cause prematurity and genetic conditions. With time, another factor  for this disease was discovered -the lack of oxygen.  Dr.Franz shows in the video how it is even a fact that this condition increases with altitude. 

This type of condition makes the patient seem desperate to breathe, and a major surgery used to be the only solution. Before his invention, of course.

The inspiration to his invention came one day camping in the Amazon region. He used an avocado branch as a mold for the first invention, making that his first successful attempt to create a device for this major problem. After this moment of inspiration, there came a very long time of effort developing a prototype. In vitro and in vivo studies took thousands of hours of work in the lab. Till it could actually work and save lives.

He returned from Germany to Bolivia, thinking that wherever he go he have the opportunity to make a difference. He started to see patients with his wife, Dr. Alexandra Heath and they felt really enthusiastic as they got good results.

Because they live in a place that is 12,000 feet high and the patients there need a special device to solve their heart condition. The problem is that the hole in altitude patients is different, because the office between the arteries is larger. Most of the patients can not afford to be treated on time and die.

They started to search other methods in order to treat most of the patients in Bolivia. This new device was made with a traditional method of weaving and by a smart material that records shape. This time, the weaving allows them to create a seamless device that doesn't rust because it is made of only one piece. This new device expands places itself and closes the hole. It is very simple to use because it works by itself and no open surgery was necessary.

Dr. Franz found a way to heal hearts, a way in which an open surgery was not necessary. Its objective was not only to be able to find this new device, but also to be able to cure all possible patients. He focused especially on children as he felt they deserved a chance at life. His inspiration is the satisfaction of seeing his patients healthy.

“The best solutions need to be simple. We lost the fear of creating something new. The path, it's not easy. Many obstacles arise all the time. But we receive strength from our patients. Their resilience and courage inspire our creativity. Our goal is to make sure that no child is left behind.”
Here we live the link if you are interested in watching this TED Talk:https://www.ted.com/talks/franz_freudenthal_a_new_way_to_heal_hearts_without_surgery