Press Release:

TUCSON, Ariz. – Feb. 15, 2007 – Dr. Marvin Slepian, co-founder and chairman of SynCardia Systems, Inc. will be presenting the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) at the 4th International Wine and Heart Health summit at the Silverado Resort in Napa Valley, CA on February 17th. 

The focus of the February conference is the effect of wine on cardiovascular health with emphasis on disease prevention.  It also includes a session on landmark advances in medical technology during which Dr. Slepian will present, “Technology in Medicine: Development of the Artificial Heart”.

“It is important for all medical professionals to know that the artificial heart is successfully being used as a bridge-to-transplant for transplant eligible patients dying from end-stage biventricular failure,” explains Dr. Slepian.

“The CardioWest™ TAH-t completely replaces the blood pumping function of the diseased heart. This device has proven to be a life-saver, allowing patients to recuperate and regain their strength which more than doubles their odds of living another year.”

A New England Journal of Medicine paper published on August 26, 2004 (NEJM 2004; 351: 859-867), states that in the pivotal clinical study of the TAH-t, the one year survival rate for patients receiving the CardioWest TAH-t was 70 percent versus 31 percent for control patients who did not receive the device. 

The culmination of over forty years of research on Artificial Hearts initiated as a mandate during the Kennedy administration, the CardioWest™ TAH-t is still the first and only FDA and CE approved temporary Total Artificial Heart in the world. The TAH-t is available at 20 of the top transplant centers in the United States and Europe.

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About the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart
SynCardia Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is the privately-held manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure. There have been more than 1,000 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 250 patient years of life.

Similar to a heart transplant, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves, eliminating the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure. Unlike a donor heart, the Total Artificial Heart is immediately available at SynCardia Certified Centers and does not require expensive anti-rejection medication, which can cause subsequent complications. It is the only device that provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 liters per minute through both ventricles. This high volume of safe blood flow helps speed the recovery of vital organs, helping make the patient a better transplant candidate.

SynCardia Ranked #20 Among World's 50 Most Innovative Companies
In March 2011, Fast Company magazine ranked SynCardia #20 in its annual list of the "World's 50 Most Innovative Companies" for "giving mobility to artificial heart recipients." Weighing 13.5 pounds, SynCardia's Freedom® portable driver is the world's first wearable driver designed to power the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital. The Freedom driver is CE approved for use in Europe and undergoing an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the U.S.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.syncardia.com
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Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660