Press Release:

Richard Whittington, the first SynCardia Total Artificial Heart patient in the Midwest to be discharged from the hospital using the Freedom® portable driver, is interviewed by reporters at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

TUCSON, Ariz. – Aug. 24, 2011 – SynCardia Systems, Inc., manufacturer of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart, announced today that University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has discharged the first Total Artificial Heart patient in the Midwest to wait for a matching donor heart at home using a portable power supply called the Freedom® driver. Richard Whittington, 59, received the Total Artificial Heart on July 6 and after 34 days was discharged from the hospital on Aug. 9.

"We are very pleased with Mr. Whittington's rapid progress," said James Davis, M.D., the cardiothoracic surgeon who implanted the Total Artificial Heart. "This technology has clearly benefited him greatly, and we fully expect that we can help other patients who also need this type of highly advanced care and support."

Since age 33, Mr. Whittington has had five heart attacks, one stroke, two pacemakers, 11 stents and open heart bypass surgery. Having lived in pain from his heart problems for the past 15 years, today he says he feels great other than a little soreness from the surgery. He says he is looking forward to sitting on his porch, watching the corn grow and eating fresh tomatoes from his garden. 

SynCardia Total Artificial Heart patient Richard Whittington receives a congratulatory hug from his cardiologist Dr. Frances Johnson prior to being discharged from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics using the Freedom® portable driver as part of an FDA clinical study.

"We will continue to work closely with his referring physicians to monitor his status, but indications thus far are telling us that he should do very well on this technology," explained Jennifer Goerbig-Campbell, M.D., a cardiologist in the UI Heart and Vascular Center.

Mr. Whittington is participating in the FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study of the Freedom portable driver. Weighing 13.5 pounds, the Freedom driver is the first U.S. portable driver designed to power the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital. As of today, there have been 25 people enrolled in the Freedom driver study. Of those 25, Mr. Whittington is the 13th to be discharged from the hospital.

"I'm going to go home, and they're going to go out and get me a heart," said Mr. Whittington. "After that, we'll have a big party."

• Watch/read news coverage of Iowa's 1st Total Artificial Heart patient going home
• Read press release from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

CAUTION – The Freedom® portable driver is an investigational device, limited by United States law to investigational use.

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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