OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- World Heart Corporation , a global technology leader in mechanical circulatory support systems, announced that it was recently issued U.S. patent #6,969,345 on its next-generation pulsatile pump, the Novacor II left ventricular assist system (LVAS). This patent, the second specifically covering the Novacor II device, includes refinements incorporated into the unique, bearingless, direct magnetic drive system that actuates the pump.
“The design covered by these patents represents a major advance over existing implantable pulsatile blood pumps,” said Mr. Phillip Miller, WorldHeart’s Vice President, Research and Development. “It is significantly smaller than currently available devices, while the absence of bearings or wear mechanisms enhances long-term durability.” The Novacor II builds directly on the established technology of the WorldHeart Novacor LVAS(R). WorldHeart holds seven issued patents on this technology, related to blood pumps, valves, conduits and power systems.
Since April 2005, WorldHeart was issued two other U.S. patents, #6,879,126 and #6,949,066, which enhance control of its rotary ventricular assist device (VAD). “These two patents reinforce the eleven previously-issued patents related to our rotary pump that we already own or license,” commented Mr. Pratap Khanwilkar, Ph.D., WorldHeart’s Vice-President, Rotary Systems and Business Development. “The first patent protects actuator control technology that has increased the robustness of the magnetic suspension. The second patent protects physiological control, specifically unique ways to diagnose and respond to changing physiological parameters by measuring and processing only the pump’s parameters, without reliance on additional sensors.”
“This is an important step in the development of our new devices,” added Mr. Miller. “The Intellectual Property protection afforded by these patents strengthens WorldHeart’s position as the only company working to provide both next-generation rotary and pulsatile pumps to our customers.”
About the Novacor II and the WorldHeart Rotary VAD
The Novacor II is a next-generation pulsatile ventricular assist device (VAD). The Novacor II design is based on the proven technology of the Novacor(R) Left Ventricular Assist System (LVAS) currently in clinical use. Smaller and quieter than its predecessor, the new pump is driven by direct magnetic actuation, eliminating bearings and other components subject to wear. The device is not currently available in the USA.
The WorldHeart rotary VAD is a next-generation continuous flow pump that uses the simplest magnetic levitation design to fully suspend the spinning pump rotor, its only moving part, inside a compact housing. The centrifugal pump and integrated motor do not have any mechanical bearings, shafts or seals, nor does it depend on blood to provide suspension forces. The rotary VAD is not currently available in the USA.
About the Novacor(R) LVAS
The Novacor LVAS, a pump implanted alongside the patient’s own heart to take over a large portion of the workload of the natural heart, supports end-stage heart failure patients. It is an electrically powered, pulsatile flow device with more than 21 years of clinical use. The Novacor LVAS has unprecedented reliability and durability. It is the first ventricular assist device to provide a recipient with more than 6 years of circulatory support and the first in the industry with record support on a single pulsatile device, 4.8 years. To date, more than 1,600 patients have been supported with the Novacor, with over 600 patient-years of experience and no deaths attributed to device failure.
The Novacor LVAS is commercially approved as a bridge to transplantation in the USA and Canada. In Europe, the Novacor LVAS has unrestricted approval for use as an alternative to transplantation, a bridge to transplantation, and to support patients who may have an ability to recover the use of their natural heart. In Japan, the device is commercially approved for use in cardiac patients at risk of imminent death from non-reversible left ventricular failure for which there is no alternative except heart transplantation.
About World Heart Corporation
World Heart Corporation is a global technology leader in mechanical circulatory support systems headquartered in Oakland, California, USA with additional facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah and in Heesch, Netherlands. WorldHeart’s registered office is Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Any forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties, including without limitation, risks in product development and market acceptance of and demand for the Company’s products, risks associated with costs and delays posed by government regulation, limitations on third-party reimbursement, inability to protect any of its proprietary technology, including the patents discussed above, potential product liability, slower destination therapy adoption rate for VADs including our Novacor LVAS, the Company’s ability to raise funding needed to complete its clinical programs and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its recently filed Proxy Statement and Amended Annual Report on Form 10-KSB/A for year ended 2004.
World Heart Corporation
CONTACT: Mr. Richard Juelis, +1-510-563-4713, or Ms. Peggy Allman,+1-510-563-4721, both of World Heart Corporation
Web site: http://www.worldheart.com/
