INCOR® Ventricular Assist Device improval through new features – so far more than 50 implants

Berlin, 22 October 2010. Since the device improval through additional features and innovative software settings, more than 50 INCOR® ventricular assist devices have been implanted in patients suffering from severe heart failure. The new textured inflow cannula tip improves the myocardial ingrowth in the heart and the intelligent software settings, which on one hand produces an effective wash-out of the left ventricle and on the other, promotes aortic valve opening. This novelty completes the proven traditional INCOR® device to an optimal extent. The 50th patient just has been implanted in Regensburg, Germany by Professor Dr. Christof Schmid, head of cardiothoracic surgery department of the university hospital Regensburg and expert on the field of ventricular assist devices. „The implantation went very well“, said Professor Schmid a few days after the surgery, „the patient was extubated shortly after implantation and his condition is stabilizing continuously“. For years the today 52-year- old was suffering from idiopathic cardiomyopathy and in the end when his condition became worse, his own heart could not assure the vital pump function. The life-saving INCOR® device is attached to the heart with two cannulae and will from now on support the blood circulation within the body. Because the pump is implanted in the heart, one hardly notices it. Only the connection cord, which exits the body and the external components “control unit” and “batteries” are visible to the patient, as he carries them in a small bag. Furthermore, discharge and hence participation in active life is possible. In most of the cases an assist device is implanted in order to bridge the time until a donor heart becomes available. In the event of any contraindications regarding transplantation, implanting a ventricular assist device is the only reasonable alternative. In rare cases the mechanical support can lead to recovery of the heart and subsequent explantation of the system.

About Berlin Heart
Berlin Heart GmbH is the only company worldwide that develops, produces, and distributes implantable and external ventricular assist devices (INCOR®, EXCOR® Adult and EXCOR® Pediatric) for patients of every age and body size. The company is the market leader in Germany and Europe.

About the INCOR®
INCOR® is an implantable left ventricular assist device for adults. The impeller, the only moving part within the pump, is magnetically levitated, which makes the pump unique worldwide and ideally suited for long-term support. More than 500 patients have been supported with the system, some of them for several years. The longest support time so far is six years.

EXCOR® is currently under clinical investigation for pediatric use in USA. All other products are not FDA approved.

Berlin Heart GmbH
Kerstin Unkel
Wiesenweg 10
12247 Berlin
Germany

This release was published on openPR.