Smiths Interconnect delivers high-reliability interconnect solutions to the medical industry. Their interconnect solutions have been used extensively for decades in areas where integrity and reliability are essential to the well-being of a patient. Smiths Interconnect contacts, connectors and cable assemblies facilitate medical trends toward less invasive procedures, disposable probes, embedded electronics, high cycle life and sterilization.
Situation
- Shortage of donors require patients to be placed on long waitlists.
- Mobile lifestyles and quality of life is restricted due to the size, weight and non-portability of life sustaining equipment.
- Total signal reliability is crucial to development of smaller portable devices.
Background
A recognized leader in the mechanical circulatory support industry, SynCardia Systems of Tuscon, Arizona, manufactures the SynCardia temporary “Total Artificial Heart” as a bridge to transplant for patients who are dying from end-stage biventricular failure and are on waiting lists for heart transplant. SynCardia’s Total Artificial Heart is the only FDA, Health Canady and CE approved Total Artificial Heart in the world.
The Challenge
For patients being kept alive by the Total Artificial Heart, their wait for a donor heart has typically been one of forced hospital confinement, tethered to a large power console. SynCardia's "Big Blue” Driver is the only FDA approved driver for powering in the Total Artificial Heart in the US, but it is a 418 lb. device. SynCardia began to develop as suitable portable substitute for Big Blue that would provide patients stability with the opportunity to be discharged from the hospital to live in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes while waiting for donors
Solution
SynCardia’s research and development produced the Freedom portable pneumatic driver as an alternative power source to its hospital-based Big Blue driver. The Freedom driver weighs in at 13.5 lbs. and can be placed in a backpack or as a shoulder bag, providing patients hands-free operation. The Freedom driver is currently an FDA approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study in the US.
An issue of paramount concern to SynCardia during the development of the Freedom driver was to make certain that total signal reliability was maintained. This challenge included a critical need for reliable and dependable interconnect systems within the product. SynCardia turned to Hypertac, a proven connector vendor with a track record of success in the medical device industry. Hypertac’s specialized design and development of interconnect systems met SynCardia’s vital requirements for including color coding, sealing, keying and simple mating action. Smiths Interconnect’s design engineers worked closely with the SynCardia team to create an interconnect system of cable assemblies and connectors for the Freedom driver that could confidently deliver complete reliability. The combination of the Hypertac HyperGrip® and D-Series interconnect solutions within the SynCardia Freedom driver addressed the unique demands and requirements of the life-sustaining application