Development of SVAD System for HF Therapy

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this proposal is to complete the engineering development and pre-clinical testing of the SCR SVAD system to provide partial cardiac assist in patients with less advanced stage heart failure (HF). HF isincreasing worldwide and represents a major burden in terms of health care resources and costs. Despite advances in medical care, prognosis with HF remains poor, especially in advanced stages. Currently, it requires a major operative intervention and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which have been associated with significant adverse event rates and long recovery. The high cost of the intervention and patient follow-up has limited widespread acceptance. The SVAD system consists of a miniaturized axial flow pump (platinum alloy impeller and vane diffuser), inflow cannulation to the left atrium, and outflow graft anastomosis to axillary artery. The SVAD pump (6 cm length, 2 cm diameter, 40 g weight) is implanted through a right lateral mini-thoracotomy. The