How many patients could potentially benefit from the AbioCor?
More than 700,000 Americans die each year from heart failure, making it the number one cause of death in the U.S., as well as worldwide. About half of these are sudden cardiac deaths, which occur so quickly that there is not enough time for intervention with a cardiac assist or replacement device. For the remaining half, heart transplantation is one of the few options available today. Though hundreds of thousands are in need, only about 2,000 people in the U.S. will be able to receive donor hearts every year. This consistent shortage in the supply of donor hearts in the U.S. demonstrates the need for an alternative to heart transplantation. ABIOMED believes that currently more than 100,000 people in the U.S. could benefit from the AbioCor each year.
