The procedure was performed by a team led by Professor Bartley P. Griffith, M.D. at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The first US implant of the VentrAssist is part of an FDA-approved feasibility study in 10 patients at up to five hospitals across the United States. The trial is managed in part by the International Center for Health Outcomes and Innovation Research (InCHOIR).
Dr. Griffith said: "We are very pleased to participate in the clinical trial of the VentrAssist, and hope that this new technology will be shown to provide new hope for the thousands of people suffering from end stage heart failure."
Ventracor Limited Chief Executive Officer, Colin Sutton PhD, said: "With each implant, we are adding to the body of clinical evidence and experience. The first VentrAssist implant in the United States was only possible due to the tireless work and dedication of a worldwide team of people in Australia, US and Europe." Dr Sutton noted that to date nearly 30 patients had been implanted with the VentrAssist globally.
Dr. Griffith - is Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and Director of Heart and Lung Transplantation in the Department of Surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center and is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Prior to his arrival at the University of Maryland, Dr. Griffith served as Vice Chair, Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he was also Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the Henry T. Bahnson Professor of Surgery.
Congestive Heart Failure - in the United States, congestive heart failure (CHF) affects about five million people, or two percent of the population. There are an estimated 550,000 new cases diagnosed each year, and around 45,000 deaths from CHF.
Ventracor - is a global medical device company that has developed a blood pump, the VentrAssistTM left ventricular assist system (LVAS) for patients in cardiac failure. The company hopes to bring the VentrAssistTM to the global market in record time, and expects to obtain a significant share of the huge potential market.
For further information, please contact:
Andrew Geddes
Manager, Investor Relations
Ventracor Limited
T: 61-294-063-086