FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Monica Bush
Marketing Specialist
Ph: 412.963.7770 ext. 247
mbush@cardiacassist.com

PEDIATRIC VERSION OF TANDEMHEART TO RECEIVE
$1 MILLION IN NIH FUNDING

Pittsburgh, PA, October 4, 2005 -- CardiacAssist, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based medical device company has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This $921,000 award will fund Phase II work on a pediatric version of the TandemHeart® PTVA® (Percutaneous Transseptal Ventricular Assist) System. The TandemHeart is a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) that saves lives by increasing blood flow and reducing the demands placed on a weakened or damaged heart, yet is used without the need for invasive surgery. By providing a continuous life-saving flow of blood, the TandemHeart allows the heart to rest and provides additional time for the physician to further assess the patient. Inclusive of a previous Phase I grant for $105, 000 in 2004, the pediatric version of the TandemHeart will receive more than $1 million in total funding from the NIH. This award is the only SBIR grant for the development of a percutaneous VAD.

Program Manager David Wang, Ph.D., was the primary author of the grant, with support from Douglas Smith, Ph.D., CardiacAssist, Inc.’s Vice President of Engineering. In addition to members of CardiacAssist, Inc.’s staff, our research partners in this project include Dr. Gregory Burgreen of Mississippi State University, Dr. Ziyad Hijazi of the University of Chicago, Dr. Emile Bacha of Children’s Hospital of Boston - Harvard University, Dr. James Magovern of the Allegheny Singer Research Institute, Dr. Howard Rockette of the University of Pittsburgh, and Dr. Zhongjun Wu of the University of Maryland.

“In the Phase I study, we successfully demonstrated the feasibility of our design. The new Phase II award will help us to complete the development with the eventual goal of commercializing this device. We are very excited about offering our already acquired knowledge and expertise in the adult field to benefit pediatric heart failure patients - a most vulnerable and underserved population. Successful development and commercialization of this device will give new hope to thousands of infants and children with heart failure,” said Dr. Wang.

Michael Garippa, President and CEO of CardiacAssist, Inc. said, “This grant will have a significant impact on an important project as we advance the state-of-the-art for percutaneous ventricular assist devices. The knowledge we gain from this pediatric initiative will also help us further our progress in many areas.”

The TandemHeart has now been deployed nearly 400 times at 70 hospitals worldwide. Formed in 1996 with headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, CardiacAssist, Inc. designs, develops, and markets unique and proprietary cardiac assist devices to cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. ###

Available for Interview: David Wang, Ph.D., Douglas Smith, Ph.D., Michael Garippa