Long-term safety and durability of novel intra-aortic percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device

An unmet need exists for minimally invasive percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) devices to provide partial support and promote cardiac rest and recovery in non-end-stage heart failure patients. This indication requires safe, long-term, ambulatory use with standard anticoagulation. The Aortix pump (Procyrion, Houston, Texas, USA) is a percutaneously deployed intra-aortic pump currently being clinically evaluated for subacute use and has the potential to provide extended therapy for non-end-stage heart failure patients. The device has demonstrated hemocompatibility and hemodynamic impact and has features well suited for home use. To evaluate the Aortix pump for long-term, ambulatory use, pumps were implanted in 4 untethered sheep. Pumps operated for 90 to 142 days and were stopped electively. Pump bearing components were found to have only superficial wear. No clinically significant hemolysis was observed and aorta and kidney histopathology showed no device-related findings or adhesions, suggesting Aortix is suitable for long-term (>6 months) ambulatory use.