Comment and opinionThe SynCardia freedom driver: A portable driver for discharge home with the total artificial heart
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Disclosure statement
No funding was received for this manuscript by SynCardia Systems Inc, nor was SynCardia Systems Inc involved in the manuscript.
Dr Arabia is a consultant for SynCardia Systems Inc. Dr Jaroszewski is the primary investigator for Mayo Clinic Arizona and the SynCardia Freedom Driver. None of the other authors has a financial relationship with a commercial entity that has an interest in the subject of the presented manuscript or other conflicts of interest to disclose.
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Cited by (29)
Pediatric devices
2018, Mechanical Circulatory and Respiratory SupportTeam-Based Care for Outpatients with Heart Failure
2015, Heart Failure ClinicsCitation Excerpt :LVAD patients reported improvements in quality of life and demonstrated greater functional ability in movement, mobility, and ambulation following hospital discharge.11,162 Discharging BiVAD patients home allows time to physically rehabilitate from the surgical experience, achieve medical stability, and improve overall nutrition and strength before proceeding to transplant surgery.89,90,159 In addition, TAH patients reported improvements in quality of life with discharge to home and remained ambulatory.92,93,161
Mechanical circulatory support devices in the ICU
2014, ChestCitation Excerpt :Increased waiting time for donor organs has been accompanied by significantly reduced quality of life as well as increased financial costs. A portable driver allowing discharge to home has been evaluated for clinical use and is awaiting regulatory approval for use in the United States.51 Considering the durability and compact size of CF LVADs, efforts have been made toward fully implanting CF biventricular assist devices.
A History of Devices as an Alternative to Heart Transplantation
2014, Heart Failure ClinicsCitation Excerpt :The principal drawback to the TAH is the large (181.4 kg [400 lb]) driver console, affectionately referred to as Big Blue, which requires indefinite hospitalization. The next generation of portable pneumatic controller, the Freedom Driver, is undergoing active investigation.60 This portable driver is so small (6.1 kg [13.5 lb]) that patients can be safely discharged home and can remain independent despite orthotopic mechanical replacement.
Fracture of the total artificial heart pneumatic driveline after transition to the portable driver
2013, Journal of Heart and Lung TransplantationCatheter and Surgical Therapies for Right Heart Failure: Current and Future Options
2020, Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryCitation Excerpt :The TAH is pneumatically driven and requires air compressor and external console. While portable drivers exist and facilitate hospital discharge, the equipment is noisy and may potentially limit quality of life.36 In a multicenter study looking at 47 patients with TAH beyond 1 year, 72% went on to transplant and 24% died with the device.