TUCSON, AZ--(Marketwire - June 30, 2011) - On June 14, Marvin J. Slepian, M.D., Professor of Medicine (Cardiology and Biomedical Engineering) at the University of Arizona and co-founder and chairman of SynCardia Systems, Inc. (www.syncardia.com), presented on the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart during his keynote address at the TechConnect World Summit held in Boston.
During the symposium on MEMS (Microelectronic and Micromechanical Systems), Medicine and Quality of Life, Dr. Slepian discussed the technical and clinical status of the world's only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. In addition, he also discussed the new Freedom® driver, the first U.S. portable driver designed to power SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital.
Weighing 13.5 pounds, this wearable driver is designed to allow stable patients to be discharged from the hospital to wait at home for a matching donor heart for transplant. 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.
Dr. Slepian also discussed the potential of add-on technologies, including collaborative studies between his lab at the University of Arizona and Dr. John Rogers regarding stretchable electronics, MEMS and their application to devices such as the Total Artificial Heart. Dr. Rogers was recently awarded the distinguished Lemelson-MIT prize, for technological advances and innovations that improve our world.
Dr. Slepian is Director of Interventional Cardiology and Director of the Tissue Engineering Lab at the University of Arizona. He has founded numerous medical device companies and has served as acting CEO and Board Member of several medical device startups. Additionally, Dr. Slepian has conducted extensive research, development and pre-clinical investigation of novel cardiovascular therapeutic methods and devices, and is the holder of more than 25 issued and 41 filed patents.
The TechConnect Summit is one of the largest multi-sector gatherings (nanotech, cleantech, life sciences) of technology IP, technology ventures, industrial partners, and investors in the world. The purpose of the Summit is to bring together the world's leading technology transfer offices, companies, and investment firms to locate promising technologies and early stage companies from across the globe.
CAUTION - The Freedom® portable driver is an investigational device, limited by United States law to investigational use.
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, the Total is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure. More than 900 implants account for more than 210 patient years of life.
Similar to a heart transplant, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves. It is the only device that eliminates the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure.
In March 2011, Fast Company magazine ranked SynCardia #20 among the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies "for giving mobility to artificial heart recipients."
For additional information, please visit: http://www.syncardia.com or follow SynCardia on Twitter -- @SynCardia_News
Media Contact:
Don Isaacs
Email Contact
Vice President of Communications
SynCardia Systems, Inc.
Cell: (520) 955-0660
http://www.syncardia.com/
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