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After a TAH patient becomes clinically stable, they can be switched from the Companion 2 (C2) Hospital Driver to the Freedom Driver, a smaller, lighter pneumatic pump for the TAH, which offers increased mobility. Patients who meet discharge criteria can then be released from the hospital to enjoy active and independent lives at home with their families and friends while they wait for a matching donor heart.
Regulatory Approvals:
Weighing 13.5 lbs (~6 kg), the Freedom Driver can be worn in the Backpack or Shoulder Bag and has supported patients as young as 11 years old. The increased mobility provided by the Freedom Driver allows patients to exercise more easily, helping them become healthier, stronger transplant candidates.
Life at home greatly improves the patient’s quality of life, promoting physical, mental and emotional health while eliminating most in-hospital costs for this portion of patient care. Discharged patients are able to enjoy the company of their loved ones, sleep in their own beds, cook their own meals, enjoy recreational activities like hiking and dancing, and in some cases, even go back to work.
The Freedom Driver is powered by two lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged through either a standard electrical outlet or a car charger. This allows patients to recharge their batteries while traveling, during the day while stationary and at night while they are sleeping. The batteries provide power to the motor that drives the internal pneumatic piston, which creates precisely calibrated pulses of air that power the implanted TAH.