Press Release:

Italian Total Artificial Heart patient Pietro Zorzetto wears the Freedom portable driver in the Freedom Backpack to ride his bike. Weighing 13.5 lbs, the Freedom driver is the world’s first wearable portable driver for powering the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Oct. 12, 2010 – A 54-year-old Italian man has become the first patient to surpass 1,000 days of support with the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart while waiting for a matching donor heart.

"Life is a wonderful present that has to be respected," said Total Artificial Heart patient Pietro Zorzetto. "The Total Artificial Heart allowed me to recover to a very healthy physical condition. I really want to thank the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart for these unexpected 1,000 days of life."

Mr. Zorzetto was first admitted to Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova on Nov. 30, 2007, suffering from valvular cardiomyopathy. Two previous operations at a different hospital had failed to repair his failing heart. Less than a week later, on Dec. 6, 2007, Mr. Zorzetto made history when he became the first patient in Italy to be implanted with the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart. 

"The Total Artificial Heart provides excellent cardiac output, which restored our patient to normal condition despite the fact he presented with severe multi-organ failure," said Prof. Gino Gerosa. "The Total Artificial Heart in combination with the portable driver has been extremely effective in providing the patient with a good quality of life with excellent exercise capacity."

Mr. Zorzetto has been enjoying life at home since Feb. 4, 2008, when he was discharged from the hospital using a portable driver to power his Total Artificial Heart. On a typical day, he walks 10 km and then exercises for an additional 30 minutes in his gym at home to stay in shape for a transplant.

CAUTION - The Freedom® portable driver is CE approved for commercial use in Europe and is undergoing an FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the U.S.

VIDEO: Watch Italian Total Artificial Heart patient Pietro Zorzetto ride his bicycle wearing the Freedom® portable driver in the Backpack. Video may take a few moments to download. 

###

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
Like SynCardia on Facebook
Follow SynCardia on Twitter – @SynCardia
Connect with SynCardia on LinkedIn

Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660