Corvion
A Powerful, Fully Implanted LVAD Solution

The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) disclosed that one in four individuals now faces heart failure during their lifetime, up from the previous estimate of one in five. This aligns with data suggesting around 8.5 million Americans will be impacted by heart failure by 2030.

Treating end-stage heart failure typically involves a heart transplant. However, the shortage of available donor hearts led to the innovation of small pumps called left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), which aid in blood flow to restore patient health. Current mechanical circulatory support devices, designed for short- or long-term use, pose challenges. Their large size and heavy power requirements necessitate a skin-penetrating power cord connected to bulky external batteries and controllers, burdening patients with a constant 6-7-pound load. This lifestyle restriction, coupled with increased infection risks, heightens stroke chances and, in severe cases, leads to fatal outcomes.

Amid the challenges posed by present mechanical circulatory support devices, a hopeful design is taking shape with Corvion, a medical device company focusing on introducing a highly efficient and fully implanted ventricular assist device. Corvion envisions a future by crafting an efficient implantable rotary blood pump, three times more efficient than competitors, and pairing it with flexible and robust wireless charging technology. The company aims to enhance patient outcomes and the overall quality of life.

“We’ve taken it one step further by developing a pump so efficient that the implanted battery can run it all day, eliminating the need for any external power source,” says Greg Aber, CEO, and founder of Corvion.

The fully implanted pump, where the pump and power source are internal, with wireless recharging, addresses two critical issues. One is to eliminate the need for a skin-penetrating power cord, thereby reducing infection and stroke risks. The other is to eliminate huge external battery packs and controllers. Unlike other attempts by companies that often necessitate external power sources throughout the day and night, Corvion advanced further, creating an incredibly efficient pump. The implanted battery can power it all day, requiring no external sources. This translates to patients living with an entirely implanted pump, wearing only a charger for a few hours in the morning and evening. For the majority of the day, approximately 20 hours, they are free from any external devices and enjoy a normal lifestyle, including activities like showering and swimming, typically restricted for existing ventricular assist device patients.

We’ve taken it one step further by developing a pump so efficient that the implanted battery can run it all day, eliminating the need for any external power source

The innovative wireless charging system ensures a 12-hour runtime by leveraging the device’s exceptional efficiency. When recharging is required, a device worn on the abdominal area facilitates the process, transferring power wirelessly through the skin. This recharges the battery within two hours but also sustains the pump’s operation simultaneously, allowing patients to enjoy extended periods without external accessories, marking a significant leap forward in patient-centric care.

As the company progresses through non-human trials, seeing promising results with the pump and wireless system, the prospect of human implants within the next 18 months holds the promise of revolutionizing mechanical circulatory support. Headed by a multidisciplinary team and distinguished board members, including Dr. Eric Rose, the father of ventricular assist device clinical research, and Greg Aber, inventor of the first rotary heart pump ever implanted in a human, Corvion stands poised to shape the future of cardiovascular devices, offering hope to millions impacted by heart failure.