Blood tests of Swedish new total artificial heart compared to competitor
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Scandinavian Real Heart AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 199 208 |
| Project duration | November 2021 - May 2022 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Medtech4Health: Competence Enhancement in SME |
| Call | Medtech4Health: Skills enhancement in small businesses 2021 |
Important results from the project
The purpose was to hire an international expert, Dr. Oliver Voigt, ex-General Manager SynCardia Europe, for review of pilot data and test methods for blood tests of SynCardia. The goal was to develop protocols for optimized test methods including product settings for SynCardia. The goal was met and the test method was used to perform blood tests on SynCardia. A manuscript is being prepared for submission to a scientific journal and the results were presented at the international conference EUMS-ISMCS in Germany on 24-27 May 2022.
Expected long term effects
All expected results and effects have been achieved: the pilot data and test method have been reviewed and resulted in a new test protocol, data based on this have been generated and the results have been presented at an international conference. In addition to the expected effects, the project has also helped to build relationships with doctors (future customers), which is important before commercialization. Technical and commercial expertise has also been further anchored in the company as the expert Dr Voigt has run for and been elected to the company´s board of directors.
Approach and implementation
The project time was underestimated by 2 months, but the actual arrangement with blood tests and visits by Dr Voigt in the blood lab and video meetings worked very well. The method improvements were mainly about changed test bench design, so more mechanical engineering skills were needed and the work distribution between the project participants became different than originally planned. The project has aroused strong academic interest and an industrial doctoral position will be filled in the blood lab. We are invited to present the data at two more scientific forums in Aug-Sep 2022.