Thoratec Receives FDA Approval Of Continued Access Protocol For Bridge ARM Of Its HeartMate II(R) Pivotal Trial

The HeartMate II is a continuous flow device designed to provide long-term cardiac support for advanced-stage heart failure patients. An implantable LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) powered by a rotary pumping mechanism, the HeartMate II is designed to have a much longer functional life than pulsatile devices and to operate more simply and quietly. The device provides blood flow through the circulatory system on a continuous basis with only one moving part. It is also smaller and easier to implant than pulsatile devices. The company's product line includes the Thoratec(R) VAD and HeartMate LVAS with more than 11,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=69922