The TandemHeart PTVA System

A short-term extracorporeal circulatory support system provides cardiac assistance through a percutaneous cardiac catheterization procedure in as little as 30 minutes.

The TandemHeart percutaneous transseptal ventricular assist (PTVA) system is a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) designed to be used as a short-term circulatory support system for procedures not requiring complete cardiopulmonary bypass. The system is comprised of three elements: The TandemHeart pump provides the circulating power to pull oxygenated blood from the left atrium and to return it to the systemic arterial circulation; the TandemHeart cannula set connects the pump to the body by way of two percutaneous access points in the patient's groin; and the TandemHeart controller provides operating power to the pump, a controlled flow of lubricant to the pump, and automatic system monitoring and alarms indicating conditions that require attention.

A recently introduced lightweight, space-saving escort controller is also available, which can be mounted at bedside, on an intravenous (IV) pole, or on a table top. It is intended primarily for alternating current (AC) power use, but has enough battery back-up power for an hour of operation. The TandemHeart PTVA system is a product of CardiacAssist (Pittsburgh, PA, USA), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short-term use for up to six hours.

"The clinical experience with TandemHeart is now very substantial,” said CardiacAssist CEO Michael Garippa. "Design improvements have made the system more portable and capable of delivering up to 5 l/min of critical blood flow. We're very excited about the prospects for 2007 as our technology continues to be adopted by hospitals and institutions in the United States and around the world.”


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