CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts & Buenos Aires, Argentina—Paragonix Technologies, Inc. today announced that the Paragonix SherpaPak™ Cardiac Transport System (CTS), the industry’s only FDA cleared and CE marked system for donor heart transport and storage, was used for the first time in South America at the Favaloro Foundation University Hospital. The Paragonix SherpaPak™ CTS safeguards hearts during the journey from donor to recipient patient. The Paragonix system incorporates clinically proven and medically trusted cold preservation techniques in a novel suspension system to provide unprecedented physical and thermal protection. Paragonix SherpaPak™ CTS is the only commercially available FDA cleared and CE marked medical device for donor heart transportation.
Dr. Alejandro Bertolotti, Department Head of Transplantation at Favaloro Foundation University Hospital, is continually looking for the latest advancements in heart transplantation, and believes that SherpaPak™ CTS is at the forefront with this technology. Dr. Bertolotti stated that SherpaPak™ CTS “improves the conditions of cold transfer of the heart, ensuring that the viability and function of the organ is preserved better.” Dr. Bertolotti continued, “SherpaPak™ CTS provides a major breakthrough in the quality and safety of transplants, as well as the ability to travel further distances without affecting the donor heart.”
Previously with the standard method of organ transport – the picnic cooler – Dr. Bertolotti and his team had only 4 hours to transport and transplant a donor heart, and in the event that it took longer, there was a greater risk of complications and/or heart failure. Using the SherpaPak™ CTS at Favaloro Foundation University Hospital, Dr.Bertolotti and his team were able to extend their time limit to 5 hours, with the patient experiencing a favorable and immediate recovery.“The response and feedback we have been getting from surgeons throughout the world who are using the SherpaPak™ CTS in transporting donor organs has been incredible,” said Bill Edelman, Chairman and CEO of Paragonix Technologies. “We look forward to supporting the talented team at Favaloro Foundation University Hospital as they continue to employ SherpaPak™ CTS for cardiac transplantation and delivering outstanding care to their patients.”
About the Favaloro Foundation University Hospital
The Favaloro Foundation was established in 1975 as a not-for-profit organization by René G. Favaloro. The Favaloro University offers graduate and postgraduate courses in Medicine, Engineering, Kinesiology, Psychology, Nursing and Biology. A multidisciplinary team (specialist in Medicine, Biology, Veterinary Science, Mathematics, Engineering, etc.) work in more than 30 fields of research in collaboration with other important centers in the United States and Europe. Guided by the same principles established by its creator, the Favaloro Foundation is supported by the work of a group of highly-qualified professionals whose main objectives are teaching, research and patient care aimed towards excellence in the provision of health care based on advanced technology at the service of medical humanism.
About the Paragonix SherpaPak™ Cardiac Transport System
The Paragonix SherpaPak™ Cardiac Transport System (CTS) safeguards hearts during the journey from donor to recipient patient. Our device incorporates clinically proven and medically trusted cold preservation techniques in a novel suspension system to provide unprecedented physical and thermal protection. Paragonix SherpaPak™ CTS is the only commercially available FDA cleared and CE marked medical device for heart transportation. More than 35 transplant centers throughout the world are trained to use the Paragonix SherpaPak™ CTS for donor heart transport. The System is currently marketed in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovak Republic and The Netherlands.