In the News
Thoratec Announces 30th Anniversary of PVAD™ technology
PLEASANTON, Calif., June 11, 2012 - In 1982, Thoratec Corporation (NASDAQ: THOR), a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapy to save, support and restore failing hearts, manufactured the first implanted Paracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device (PVAD™) – a device designed to meet the left, right or bi-ventricular support needs of advanced heart failure patients. Today, Thoratec commemorates the 30th anniversary of this life-saving therapy.
Millions of people worldwide develop chronic heart failure each year, with many progressing to the point where circulatory assistance is required. Over the past 30 years, over 5,000 of these patients2 at more than 260 medical centers worldwide have received PVAD implants. Research has shown that 9 percent2 of PVAD patients achieve recovery of their native heart function.
"INTERMACS Profile 1 patients in critical cardiogenic shock may not be adequately supported by an LVAD alone and may require biventricular support," said Dr. Jaime Moriguchi, MD, Medical Director of the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute. "In these situations, a bilateral PVAD is a proven clinical option that has demonstrated an 82 percent (versus 60 percent with LVAD) survival to transplant rate in our experience." PVAD has the most peer-reviewed Bi-Ventricular Assist Device (BiVAD) publications and is the benchmark of BiVAD technology with 30 years of proven clinical results.
Consisting of three major components, the blood pump, the cannulae and the pneumatic driver, PVAD provides short-to-midterm circulatory assistance to part or all of the weakened heart. PVAD is the only FDA approved BiVAD that allows patients to be discharged home from the hospital while they await a donor heart or to recover their native heart function. This device is also flexible enough to accommodate smaller patients with a body surface area as little as 0.73m2.
Thoratec's dedication to innovation in bi-ventricular support continues with recent introductions to the PVAD product line. Among these is the HeartTouch® Tablet, a portable touchscreen device that wirelessly controls and monitors the PVAD pneumatic driver, known as the TLC-II® Plus. The TLC-II Plus has expanded Right Ventricular Assist Device capabilities for improved management of right-heart dysfunction.
"The PVAD is a long-standing trusted device suitable for a very ill patient population," said Gary Burbach, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thoratec. "PVAD is one of the many proven devices that Thoratec has developed to address advanced heart failure. For three decades, Thoratec has delivered life-saving, life-sustaining solutions that help physicians treat patients suffering from heart failure. Our robust pipeline of new products and services is designed to enable our physician partners to provide patients with improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life."
About Thoratec
Thoratec is the world leader in mechanical circulatory support with the broadest product portfolio to treat the full range of clinical needs for patients suffering from advanced heart failure. The company's ventricular assist products include the HeartMate LVAS and Thoratec VAD, with more than 20,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure. Thoratec also manufactures and distributes the CentriMag® and PediMag® / PediVAS® product lines. Thoratec is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, visit www.thoratec.com.
Thoratec, the Thoratec logo, HeartMate and HeartMate II, HeartTouch and TLC-II are registered trademarks of Thoratec Corporation and PVAD and IVAD are trademarks of Thoratec Corporation. CentriMag and PediMag are registered trademarks of Thoratec LLC, and PediVAS is a registered trademark of Thoratec Switzerland GmbH.
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Sections 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and may not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release should be considered in light of these factors and those factors discussed from time to time in Thoratec's public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed under the heading, "Risk Factors," in Thoratec's most recent annual report on Form 10-K as may be updated in subsequent SEC filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Thoratec undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
1 As of May 2012
2 Kirsch, Matthias, et al. Survival after biventricular mechanical circulatory support: Does the type of device matter?” J Heart Lung Transplant 2011; 31:501-8.
Share This Page