After Medtronic announced it was pulling its Heartware Ventricular Assist Device System from the market June 3, Abbott said it has the supply and capacity to fill the gap and meet the demand for mechanical circulatory support devices.
Because of numerous reports of patient harm and death linked to its HVAD system, Medtronic said it will stop selling and distributing it.
In a June 3 follow up statement, Abbott said the company will support training programs for physicians who will now be offering Abbott's HeartMate 3 pumps, which are meant for patients with advanced heart failure who are awaiting a heart transplant or are not candidates for the procedure.
"Ensuring continued access to these devices is critical for patients," said Mike Pederson, senior vice president of Abbott's electrophysiology and heart failure business. "We are working to ensure that physicians have the support and training they need as they further adopt HeartMate 3 to improve outcomes for their advanced heart failure patients."