Press Release:

The human heart is one pump with two ventricles. Both ventricles must pump the same amount of blood or major complications develop.

TUCSON, Ariz. – March 3, 2009 – According to a recently published article in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation (JHLT) from the German Heart Institute Berlin, “right ventricular (RV) dysfunction develops in 20% to 50% of patients after LVAD implantation, leading to prolonged ICU stays and elevated mortality.”

A second article, from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), found that “of 266 LVAD recipients, 99 required a RV assist device (37%)."

“Right ventricular (RV) failure after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement is a serious complication and is difficult to predict,” explains the HUP article. “In the era of destination therapy and the total artificial heart, predicting post-LVAD RV failure requiring mechanical support is extremely important.”

“Right ventricular failure in LVAD patients is tragic,” said Dr. Jack Copeland, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at University Medical Center. “If it can be anticipated, the solution is biventricular support from the start. If it becomes a crisis, in appropriate patients, the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) may be life-saving.”

“By replacing both sides of the dying heart, the CardioWest eliminates complications caused by failing ventricles, diseased valves, ventricle defects and electrical problems requiring a pacemaker and/or defibrillator.”

Both articles were published in the December 2008 issue of JHLT and presented at the 28th annual meeting of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) in April 2008.

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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