Use of the Flowmaker (Jarvik 2000) Left Ventricular Assist Device for Destination Therapy and Bridging to Transplantation

The Flowmaker left ventricular assist device (formerly known as the Jarvik 2000) is an axial-flow pump that provides continuous flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. Designed for either temporary or permanent use, the Flowmaker is undergoing clinical trials in the United States and Europe. The goal of this therapy is to provide adequate circulatory flow while partially reducing the left ventricular size and end-diastolic pressure. This gives the native ventricle an opportunity to remodel itself. Those who benefit the most from this technology are patients who require only true left ventricular assistance rather than total capture of the left ventricular output. Because of the Flowmaker’s simplicity and safety of implantation, as well as the absence of late pump failure, its use may be justified in severely impaired class III and IV (but not preterminal) heart failure patients.