Press Release:

Rajiv “Bobby” Dhawan and his wife Heidi, enjoy time together thanks to the European discharge driver.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Aug. 12, 2009 – SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart, announced today that European Total Artificial Heart patients now account for more than 50 years of living with the European discharge driver.

“With the portable driver I am completely mobile,” said Rajiv “Bobby” Dhawan, who has been enjoying life at home with his Total Artificial Heart since March 2008. “It’s freedom! I do everything! I can go for a walk, go to a bar, go to a restaurant and go meet my friends.”

Overall, 69 patients have been supported with the European discharge driver:

-44 patients for > 6 months
-18 patients for > 1 year
-7 patients for > 18 months
-2 patients for > 2 years

Joachim Heumann enjoyed 257 days of life with the European discharge driver before receiving his matching donor heart.

“ Stable Total Artificial Heart patients flourish outside the hospital environment using the European discharge driver,” said Rodger Ford, president and CEO of SynCardia. “These patients are able to enjoy quality lives at home and in their communities. SynCardia’s Total Artificial Heart is the ideal solution for providing the reliable support that patients have come to depend on.”

SynCardia is currently developing a new 12-lb discharge driver designed for use in the U.S. 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 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