WorldHeart

WorldHeart was a medical technology company dedicated to the development and commercialization of mechanical circulatory support systems for patients with advanced heart failure. The company's flagship product, the Levacor Ventricular Assist Device (VAD), was a rotary pump that utilized magnetic levitation technology to suspend the rotor, thereby reducing friction and potential blood damage. WorldHeart's portfolio also included the Novacor VAD, a pulsatile pump acquired from Edwards Lifesciences. The company's devices were designed for both bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy applications. In 2012, WorldHeart was acquired by HeartWare International, which was subsequently acquired by Medtronic in 2016.