Press Release:

The Total Artificial Heart replaces both human heart ventricles without risk of rejection because it is made of biocompatible materials.

TUCSON, Ariz. – July 28, 2009 – During 2008, 10% of people who were implanted with the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart received the device because they were suffering from rejection of their donor heart transplant.

Jim Hennigan, 44, received his first heart transplant in 2004 but suffered from rejection of the new heart. In July 2008, doctors implanted Hennigan with the Total Artificial Heart and bridged him to a second heart transplant 310 days later.

“The Total Artificial Heart did a phenomenal job of keeping me healthy and active for more than 10 months,” said Hennigan, who was transplanted on May 8, 2009. “As a matter of fact, the Total Artificial Heart was so efficient that my body is still trying to adapt to my new ‘run of the mill’ human heart.”

Implantation of the Total Artificial Heart is similar to a heart transplant in that it replaces both heart ventricles, eliminating biventricular heart failure. However, unlike a donor heart, the Total Artificial Heart has no risk of rejection because it is made of biocompatible materials.

“For someone suffering from donor heart rejection, surgical implantation of any other device will increase the risk of infection because the patient is still taking immunosuppressant drugs for their donor heart,” said Richard Smith, MSEE, CCE, Director of the Artificial Heart Program at University Medical Center and Chief Technical Officer for SynCardia. “The Total Artificial Heart is the only device that replaces the donor heart and eliminates the need for immunosuppressant drugs.”

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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 950 implants of the Total Artificial Heart, accounting for more than 230 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