Press Release:

L to R: Dr. Bronwyn Evans (MTAA Chairperson) Brent van den Berg (Device Technologies Australasian Marketing Manager), Ruth Roberts (Device Technologies Business Development Manager), Anne Trimmer (MTAA CEO), Ruth Shennan (Device Technologies Regulatory Affairs Manager), Leanne Bebb (Device Technologies Regulatory Affairs Coordinator), John Gairns (Device Technologies QLD Regional Manager).

TUCSON, Ariz. – Sept. 22, 2010 – On Sept. 15, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart was awarded the 2010 Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology by the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA). The award was presented to SynCardia's Australian distributor Device Technologies during the MTAA annual conference. Device Technologies is a major supplier of leading edge medical equipment and consumables to hospitals and healthcare professionals throughout Australia and New Zealand.

"Australia doesn't have enough heart donors to help all patients needing a heart transplant," said Anne Trimmer, CEO MTAA. "The artificial heart is keeping a patient alive long enough for a replacement heart to become available...This technology is an amazing example of how advances in medical technology are helping save and improve lives."

On Aug. 5, 2010, St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Australia, performed its first implant of SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to donor heart transplant. The 50-year-old patient, who had only weeks to live prior to receiving the Total Artificial Heart, has since recovered his kidney and liver function. On Aug. 20, he was switched to the 13.5 lb Freedom® portable driver, designed to power the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital. The Total Artificial Heart and the Freedom driver are available at St. Vincent's under the status of a Clinical Trial Notification and approval of the hospital's Ethics Committee.  

The Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology – Improving Quality of Life recognizes the innovative and extraordinary contribution of medical technology in improving health outcomes of Australian patients. Heart failure is a progressive disease that affects approximately 300,000 Australians per year, but only approximately 80 heart transplants are performed in the region annually.

Entries for the award were judged by an independent panel. The other finalists were:

• Medtronic - SureScan Pacing System - an MRI compatible pacemaker
• Genzyme - Synvisc One - a gel-like fluid that simulates healthy synovial fluid in affected joints
• Cochlear - Nucleus 5 System - restores hearing to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss

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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