Micropump Halts Progression of Heart Failure

The micropump is based on a magnetically and hydrodynamically levitated and stabilized rotor design, and provides up to 4.25 liters of blood flow per minute, helping to reduce the heart's workload. By supplementing the heart's native pumping capacity and preserving its ability to respond to the patient's cardiac output demands the micropump improves blood flow to vital organs.

The Synergy Circulatory Support micropump combines axial, centrifugal, and orthogonal flow paths with a single-stage impeller that is powered by an integrated brushless micro-electric motor. The design allows the motor to be sealed, thus eliminating blood contact in the motor and minimizing the potential of thrombus formation. The micropump also features a proprietary self-washing flow path and a proprietary alternating speed algorithm that is designed to minimize the risk of thrombus formation in or around the rotor itself.

The system is surgically implanted using a minithoracotomy procedure and placed in a pacemaker-like pocket under the right collarbone. The device is approximately 90% lighter than standard ventricular assist devices (VADs), but unlike VADs, implantation is faster and does not require an open-chest procedure or cardiopulmonary bypass. The Synergy Circulatory Support System is a product of CircuLite (Aachen, Germany) and has received the European Community CE marking of approval.

“Synergy changes the paradigm of heart failure treatment for those who are not responding to standard medical management by working as a complement to the heart’s function,” said Paul Southworth, president and CEO of CircuLite. “The benefits are multifaceted - patients feel better, recover rapidly, and are discharged quickly - which provides the potential for a cost reduction impact for hospitals.”

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