September 21, 2009 — CardiacAssist Inc. announced today that it will showcase transseptal puncture training simulation, developed by Mentice Inc., at its TandemHeart® System exhibit in San Francisco at the “Transcatheter Therapeutics (TCT) 2009” Annual Scientific Session next week. TandemHeart is the only 5 lpm net flow, percutaneous "extracorporeal circulatory support" device approved by the FDA for sale in the U.S. The TandemHeart device can be placed rapidly in a cath lab or an operating room—providing effective, reliable, temporary circulatory support for critically ill patients. TandemHeart is fully reimbursed by Medicare under existing DRG codes.
While transseptal puncture of the interatrial septum was introduced nearly 50 years ago, it remains a difficult procedure. Renewed interest in transseptal left heart catheterization is on the rise due to the development of left side catheter ablation and the emergence of percutaneous technologies to treat mitral and aortic valve disease. Indeed, the transseptal puncture technique has now been used in more than 1,500 TandemHeart cases by more than 300 physicians.
“We believe it is imperative for cardiologists to be knowledgeable about the transseptal puncture technique, and the Mentice training simulation is designed to show them how to perform a simple and safe transseptal puncture,” said CardiacAssist CEO Michael Garippa. “We are pleased to be partnering with Mentice to offer cardiologists the best simulation-training possible, and we expect to train more than 1,000 physicians as soon as possible to be ‘Tandem-ready’.”
“TCT 2009” will be held at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Sept. 21-25, 2009. CardiacAssist will be in booth number 2005 with information and displays pertaining to the TandemHeart System. Additionally, CardiacAssist will host a symposium—“Clinical Innovations and TandemHeart™ Support”—by invitation only on Thursday, Sept. 24th, from 6-8 p.m. at Morton’s Steak House, 400 Post Street.
The Symposium will feature presentations of cases that have saved patients’ lives at leading medical institutions across the country; presenters will include: Dr. Steven Burstein, Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles; Dr. Kirk Garrett, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; and Dr. Srijoy Mahapatra, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Va. Current and prospective customers who are interested in attending the Symposium should visit CardiacAssist’s booth to receive an invitation.
To RSVP for the event, please contact Monica Bush at 412-963-7770, extension 247 or via email at [email protected].
June 19, 2024 
