The LionHeart LVD-2000: A completely implanted left ventricular assist device for chronic circulatory support

Management of patients with end-stage cardiac disease remains a vexing prob lem. Limitations in medical management and a fixed supply of donor organs f or cardiac transplant have a continued impact on this growing population of patients. Mechanical circulatory support has proved very successful as a m eans of bridging patients to cardiac transplant when all medical options ha ve been exhausted. The development of a chronic system of circulatory suppo rt has been underway at the Pennsylvania State University for nearly 30 yea rs. These efforts have been recently merged with the industrial partnership with Arrow International toward the development of the LionHeart LVD-2000 (Arrow International, Reading, PA) completely implanted left ventricular su pport system. We present an overview of the system, details of implantation , a review of preclinical studies, and a synopsis of the first European imp lants. Early results have demonstrated the system to be safe, effective, an d reliable. Transcutaneous energy transmission and the compliance chamber h ave been validated. (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.