Mechanical Circulatory Pump Supports Failing Hearts

An acute cardiac assist device reduces end-diastolic pressure, end-diastolic volume, and the oxygen demand of the myocardium.

The HeartMate Percutaneous Heart Pump (PHP) is an axial vector flow pump designed to quickly stabilize hemodynamically compromised patients by increasing blood flow. The device is comprised of an elastomeric, collapsible impeller and cannula driven by an external motor via a flexible drive shaft. It is delivered via percutaneous access through the femoral artery using a low-profile 14F introducer sheath and is advanced into the left ventricle, where it is unsheathed and is fully expanded to 24F, allowing for near-full physiological mean blood flow rates.

With a typical operating range of 17,000–20,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), the PHP is capable of generating an average blood flow of four to five liters per minute, nearing the physiological capacity of the heart. Other feature designed for hemocompatibility include low shear stress on the blood cells, an internal driveline constructed of 10 interwoven microcables for maximum durability, and a compact, lightweight console with a user-friendly touch-screen interface.

The HeartMate PHP is a product of Thoratec (Pleasanton, CA, USA), and has received the European Community CE mark of approval. The company has also received unconditional approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an IDE clinical trial in patients undergoing high-risk percutaneous coronary interventions.

“PHP is an entirely new opportunity for Thoratec,” said D. Keith Grossman, President and CEO of Thoratec. “Although the current catheter pump market outside the US is relatively small, we look forward to gaining valuable clinical and commercial experience through a targeted European launch of HeartMate PHP in the coming months.”

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