On Sept. 15, the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart was awarded the 2010 Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology by the Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA). The award was presented to SynCardia's Australian distributor Device Technologies during the MTAA annual conference. Device Technologies is a major supplier of leading edge medical equipment and consumables to hospitals and healthcare professionals throughout Australia and New Zealand.
“Australia doesn't have enough heart donors to help all patients needing a heart transplant”
"Australia doesn't have enough heart donors to help all patients needing a heart transplant," said Anne Trimmer, CEO MTAA. "The artificial heart is keeping a patient alive long enough for a replacement heart to become available…This technology is an amazing example of how advances in medical technology are helping save and improve lives."
On Aug. 5, 2010, St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney, Australia, performed its first implant of SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart as a bridge to donor heart transplant. The 50-year-old patient, who had only weeks to live prior to receiving the Total Artificial Heart, has since recovered his kidney and liver function. On Aug. 20, he was switched to the 13.5 lb Freedom™ portable driver, designed to power the Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital. The Total Artificial Heart and the Freedom driver are available at St. Vincent's under the status of a Clinical Trial Notification and approval of the hospital's Ethics Committee.
The Kerrin Rennie Award for Excellence in Medical Technology - Improving Quality of Life recognizes the innovative and extraordinary contribution of medical technology in improving health outcomes of Australian patients. Heart failure is a progressive disease that affects approximately 300,000 Australians per year, but only approximately 80 heart transplants are performed in the region annually.
Entries for the award were judged by an independent panel. The other finalists were:
- Medtronic - SureScan Pacing System - an MRI compatible pacemaker
- Genzyme - Synvisc One - a gel-like fluid that simulates healthy synovial fluid in affected joints
- Cochlear - Nucleus 5 System - restores hearing to individuals with severe to profound hearing loss
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