Ideas change everything

A new way to heal hearts without surgery

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Franz Freudenthal |

TED2016

• February 2016

At the intersection of medical invention and indigenous culture, pediatric cardiologist Franz Freudenthal mends holes in the hearts of children across the world, using a device born from traditional Bolivian loom weaving. "The most complex problems in our time," he says, "can be solved with simple techniques, if we are able to dream."

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At the intersection of medical invention and indigenous culture, pediatric cardiologist Franz Freudenthal mends holes in the hearts of children across the world, using a device born from traditional Bolivian loom weaving. "The most complex problems in our time," he says, "can be solved with simple techniques, if we are able to dream."

Want to use TED Talks in your organization?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Get involved in the struggle to help children suffering from congenital heart disease. Partner with doctor-inventor Franz Freudenthal and his team.

About the speaker

Franz Freudenthal

Pediatric cardiologist

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With his unique inventions (including a device knitted from threads of high-tech alloy by indigenous craftswomen), Franz Freudenthal saves children from congenital heart defects.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference.

Read our curation guidelines.

Get involved in the struggle to help children suffering from congenital heart disease. Partner with doctor-inventor Franz Freudenthal and his team.