SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Biotech / Medical : World Heart Corp - WHRT and TSE/WHT
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Dan Hamilton who wrote (279)6/28/1999 12:43:00 AM
From: Mindshare  Read Replies (1) of 500
 
Only other company to present was Arrow, Inc. Never heard of them before. Device was essentially the same as Thoratec's air driven pump, so their technology is obsolete.

Currently, all these devices are being used as a last resort in the U.S. Patients are within days of dying before surgeons will implant a device. It's been this way for several years now. This leaves a lot of CHF patients just waiting on their own. The ones that deteriorate rapidly become candidates for VAD's. Total device implants for TCI and Novacor combined over the last 5 years or so is less than 5,000 worldwide. Numbers are picking up, but very slowly. Europe may slowly start implanting devices as a pre-emptive therapy. FDA and insurers are still scared of potential for stroke. They will only support implants in very sick patients where other therapies have shown no improvement. It is skewing the results. Patients already have severe loss of organ function and are highly susceptible to stroke when they get a device. It's amazing success rates are still so high. If devices were implanted earlier, recovery rates would be much higher and those that still needed transplants would be in much better shape. Everybody knows this, but we still move at a snails pace. Kinda of sad that patients must be near death before they can get a device which greatly improves their quality of life while waiting for a transplant.

This is a tough market to crack with lots of barriers and pitfalls. Remember, this field of research started in the late 1950's and the market has yet to be successfully tapped. It's in WHRT's best interest that TCI continues to push new sales. If the Heartsaver can prove to have low incidences of stroke, then it's smaller size and better reliability will win out and displace the Heartmate in the commercial market. Larger sales for TCI now means greater future sales for WHRT and others.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News