September 30, 2008 - The HeartAssist 5 Pediatric VAD will be introduced for the first time in the U.S. Oct. 2-4 at the 16th annual meeting of the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps (ISRBP) in Houston.
The Modern DeBakey VAD is the only pediatric ventricular assist device (VAD) that benefited from years of hands-on leadership and support by Dr. Michael DeBakey. It is the only FDA-approved pediatric VAD in the world. Originally created through a collaboration between Dr. DeBakey, colleague Dr. George Noon, NASA and the Baylor College of Medicine, it is one of the smallest VADs in the world. It can support the failing left ventricle of the heart with blood flow of 1-10 L/min.
The U.S. introduction of the HeartAssist 5 Pediatric VAD, The Modern DeBakey VAD, occurs less than three months after the internationally renowned surgeon’s death from natural causes. Dr. DeBakey passed away at age 99 on July 11. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday on Sept. 7, 2008.
The HeartAssist 5 Pediatric VAD is the only VAD with the exclusive direct flow measurement system, which provides measurement of blood flow through the VAD. Since pediatric VADs are designed to support failing hearts in children, precise blood flow measurement can prove vital for patients in critical condition. At best, other devices only approximate blood flow, which can be unreliable, or provide no blood flow data at all.
The HeartAssist 5 Pediatric VAD pump weighs 92 grams and measures 2.8 x 1.2 inches. Because of its small size, it is one of the few pediatric VADs that can be implanted above the diaphragm in the pericardial space surrounding the heart, which reduces the risk of complications.
Dr. DeBakey will be honored multiple times during this week. On the evening of Oct. 1, Dr. Noon and heart assist device leaders will celebrate the re-grand opening of the International Center for Medical Technologies museum and hold an ISRBP presidential reception in honor of Dr. DeBakey
The following afternoon at the opening session of ISRBP, Dr. Noon and associates will pay tribute to Dr. DeBakey and his lifelong accomplishments in heart surgery and the DeBakey VAD. There will also be a Tribute to Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and Awards Gala on Oct. 3.
In the U.S., the HeartAssist 5, formerly DeBakey VAD Child, is the only FDA-approved pediatric VAD and a bridge-to-transplant IDE clinical study is underway for adult use. In Europe, the HeartAssist 5 is CE Mark approved for both adult and pediatric use. The HeartAssist 5 Straight VAD is CE Mark approved for patients with previous surgeries or complicated anatomies. It is designed to be implanted through the less invasive left thoracotomy.
For more information: www.micromedcv.com
March 20, 2024 
