CorWave today announced the world’s first human implantation of its left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in Australia.
The first procedure took place at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. Clichy, France–based CorWave said it marks a “major technological milestone in the field of durable mechanical circulatory support.”
In the United States, Abbott is currently the only provider of LVADs with its HeartMate 3 devices.
CorWave’s implantable heart pump system is driven by its proprietary wave membrane technology. The company said the swimming motion of aquatic animals inspired the technology. It aims to preserve the physiological balance of the cardiovascular system, unlike currently used rotary pumps such as HeartMate. Rotary pumps, the standard of care, deliver a continuous and fixed flow rate, the company says.
This CorWave device aims to automatically adjust blood flow according to the patient’s activity, whether at rest or in motion. It preserves the effects of the heartbeats on the vasculature and works in synchrony with the heart to preserve function and structures.
CorWave said it aims to limit serious complications associated with current devices, like stroke, bleeding, heart failure or valvular disease. It also hopes to improve the quality of life and promote heart recovery.
The first patient — who has advanced heart failure — successfully met the primary endpoint of 30-day survival without device-related complications. CorWave said the patient was discharged from the hospital and reports “feeling much better” than pre-surgery. He no longer experiences undue fatigue or shortness of breath, while investigators continue to observe proper device function.
“This world first is a success and results from more than a decade of determined research and engineering. We owe this moment to the trust of the patient, the excellence of the team at St Vincent’s, the perseverance of our team, investors and partners who have backed CorWave’s vision over the years,” said Louis de Lillers, CEO of CorWave. “We look forward to writing a new chapter in circulatory support alongside the scientific and medical community, with the shared goal of significantly improving the lives of advanced heart failure patients.”
