Press Release:

Prof. Jan Gummert, M.D. (photo: Armin Kühn)

TUCSON, Ariz. – March 12, 2009 – On Feb. 1, Prof. Jan Gummert, M.D., joined the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, as the new Director of the Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Prof. Gummert is an expert in heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support devices, and is certified on the CardioWest™ temporary Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t).

Prof. Gummert first trained on the CardioWest artificial heart in 2004 as a senior surgeon at University of Leipzig Heart Center. In 2006, he became the director of cardiothoracic surgery at Jena University Hospital.

“Prof. Gummert’s leadership and expertise are valuable assets to the Heart and Diabetes Center and the CardioWest artificial heart program,” said Rodger Ford, CEO and president of SynCardia Systems, Inc. “This hospital recently performed its 125th implant of the CardioWest artificial heart and is one of the most experienced centers in the world. They pioneered use of the European portable driver and have discharged scores of artificial heart patients to live life at home while they wait for a matching donor heart.” 

Prof. Jan Gummert, M.D., performing minimally invasive surgery. (photo: Armin Kühn)

In Europe, CardioWest patients can wait up to two years for a donor heart. Using the portable driver, many artificial heart patients are able to shop, travel, visit family and friends and live life similarly to people with human hearts. From 2003 to 2006, the Heart and Diabetes Center NRW pioneered the clinical study of the portable driver that led to CE Mark approval on July 17, 2006. This study proved that CardioWest patients could manage their artificial hearts outside the hospital while waiting for a matching donor heart.

The next generation of driver technology will be the Companion Driver System, designed for use in the OR, ICU and for discharge. SynCardia began the application process for CE Mark approval of the Companion Driver in January, with approval anticipated in early Q2. Also in Q2, SynCardia will submit an application to the FDA for the Companion Driver.

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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