Press Release:

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozbaran (middle), head of the Transplant and Assist Device Program at Ege University, with assistant surgeons Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tahir Yagdi (left) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cagatay Engin

TUCSON, Ariz. – Oct. 19, 2010 – On Sept. 30, Ege University Hospital in Izmir performed Turkey's first implant of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart. The surgery was led by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ozbaran, head of the Transplant and Assist Device Program, and proctored by experienced Total Artificial Heart surgeon Dr. Latif Arusoglu.

"We have extensive experience with BiVADs, but for such a sick patient, the Total Artificial Heart was the only suitable device," said Prof. Dr. Ozbaran. "The Total Artificial Heart provides a high volume of blood flow to help recover the vital organs. There is no need for inotropes and you do not have to worry about arrhythmia."

The 47-year-old patient, who had his mitral and atrial heart valves replaced 21 years ago, was suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy. He has been waiting for a heart transplant for two years and was moved up to emergency status two and half months ago. Prior to implant, the patient had spent three weeks in the ICU and was inotrope dependent and suffering from severe arrhythmia. Doctors expected the patient's survival was less than 15 days without the Total Artificial Heart.

Ege University is one of the biggest and oldest universities in Turkey. The heart transplant program, started in 1998, has become the most active program in the country. Each year, Ege University performs approximately 1,100 open heart surgeries. In Turkey, the average wait time for a donor heart transplant is 18 to 24 months. Ege University is the first transplant hospital in Turkey and the 33rd in the world to become a SynCardia Certified Center.

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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