Safety and feasibility of percutaneous delivery of a novel circulatory assist device (CircuLite® SYNERGY®) in the swine model

Aims: To demonstrate the feasibility and safety of percutaneous delivery of the novel inflow cannula of the CircuLite® SYNERGY® pocket Micro-pump via transseptal access in the swine model. Methods and results: After transseptal puncture, the inflow cannula system was advanced into the left atrium (LA) via the right external jugular vein and anchored onto the atrial septum under fluoroscopic and intracardiac echo guidance in 14 acute animals. Subsequently, chronic studies were performed to examine the long-term healing response to the cannula implantation with an artery-LA shunt (n=10) and overall safety of the Micro-pump components (n=6). Acute studies proved the concept of transcatheter delivery of the inflow cannula via superior venous access. The cannula tips were securely anchored in all chronic animals and appropriately endothelialised as early as two weeks. No thrombi or septal damage was observed. For the chronic pump group, device speed of 22,000 rpm (∼2.0 L/min) was maintained without any adverse cardiac events. Plasma free haemoglobin assays confirmed the absence of clinically significant haemolysis. Conclusions: The transcatheter delivery of the inflow cannula via superior venous access to the LA is feasible and safe. This percutaneous delivery presents a significantly less invasive alternative to deliver partial circulatory support devices.