heartware circulite article + cpulse mention

http://seekingalpha.com/article/2046953-circulite-boosts-heartwares-fundamentals-but-what-about-profit?source=yahoo

a good read with a passage about the cpulse



SYNERGY vs. C-Pulse: Some experts feel that Sunshine Heart's (SSH) C-Pulse could become a tough competitor for SYNERGY, but most of the cardiovascular surgeons I know don't believe that. The greatest advantage of C-Pulse could be that it is a non-blood contacting device. However, it provides limited hemodynamic improvements for the long term. C-Pulse is an extra-aortic implantable counterpulsation pump, and its cuff is implanted through a median sternotomy, which is a type of surgical procedure in which a vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum itself is divided. The device is secured around the ascending aorta, and pneumatically driven by an external system controller.

A device capable of delivering improved cardiovascular health, longevity, and quality of life is considered superior. Paired values of blood pressure and blood flow at different nodes of the cardiovascular system are measured to evaluate the hemodynamic profile of patients. C-Pulse's extra-aortic implantable balloon counter-pulsation technology is similar to the technology of intra-aortic balloon pumps, or IABPs, used in patients undergoing high-risk PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), of which I discussed in details in another article. C-Pulse may be suitable for implantation in selected patients with heart failure who require ventricular assistance as destination therapy. Although extra-aortic counterpulsation devices are capable of increasing coronary flow and decreasing tension time index, which can enhance the oxygen supply/consumption ratio of the left ventricle, mini-VADs are far more effective in terms of paired values in providing long-term systemic hemodynamic improvements, i.e. the blood pressure and blood flow at the output of the left heart in patients undergoing destination therapy.

The C-Pulse System works by inflation and deflation of its balloon and requires a certain residual level of left ventricular function. During inflation of the balloon, blood flow is increased to the coronary arteries, and during deflation, the workload or pumping required by the left heart is reduced. In contrast, SYNERGY pumps blood as a standalone device and is capable of providing active circulatory support even with zero left ventricular function. Moreover, the use of EAB (extra-aortic balloon) is contraindicated in patients with ascending aortic disease or intact aorto-coronary grafts. That is why I believe that the use of C-Pulse and SYNERGY are not interchangeable and they do not compete directly with each other.