ReliantHeart (Houston, Texas) has an**unced that its aVAD*intraventricular heart Pump won Approval in the European union, allowing the company to begin implants in the coming months. The device, while only 2.5 centimeters in diameter, still has a 1.2 cm main channel for the blood to flow through. It rests outside the ventricle, while a component that is inserted into the heart contains an*adjustable Pump depth mechanism to provide optimal action for individual*patients.
According to ReliantHeart, the company substantially reduced the power consumption of the Pump compared to competitors, down to as little as 30% of the usage by other ventricular assist devices. It also features*flow measurement and 3G cellular-powered*remote monitoring, allowing the clinical team to **tice problems and make corrections sooner, regardless of where the patient goes.
The Pump is actually modeled on the already approved HeartAssist 5 device, having exactly the same blood path, but offering More power. This led to a quick Approval by the European authorities and ReliantHeart hopes*human trials to begin in the U.S. next year.
The Pump is already being manufactured with initial implantations to begin as early as September in Germany, Turkey, and U.K.