Hunniwell Lake Ventures portfolio company Picard Medical has acquired US-based mechanical heart replacement technology provider SynCardia Systems for an undisclosed sum.

Based in Tucson, Arizona, SynCardia is claimed to be the only company to manufacture and sell commercially approved total artificial heart (TAH).

SynCardia has already secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE mark in Europe for temporary TAH. It is approved for use in more than 30 countries across the world.

According to the company, the temporary TAH has been implanted over 2,000 times in patients to-date in Europe and North America.

Picard Medical CEO Richard Fang said: “To up the game, we are investing in next-generation technologies to address ever broadening clinical needs, and make both the TAH and drivers more user friendly and accessible to a larger and growing number of patients globally.

“We believe that with greater adoption of the TAH, fewer people will needlessly die because they lack access to human donor heart transplants.”

SynCardia’s TAH System features an implant, which is available in two sizes, including a 70cc version suitable for most adults and a smaller 50cc version for smaller adults and children. It is powered by a pneumatic external driver.

The company stated that a larger hospital version (the C2) or a smaller portable version, the size of a backpack, is designed for clinically stable patients at home (the Freedom).

The acquisition will enable SynCardia to make further advancements to its existing products to deliver improved clinical support to physicians. It will also allow the company to seek approval for expanded use of its devices.