SynCardia Systems, LLC

Meet Marcela: Four days after giving birth to her son Santiago in 2010, Marcela could not catch her breath. Born with a congenital heart condition, her heart had been pushed beyond what it could bear. She was 20 years old, Santiago was four months old, and she was facing end-stage heart failure. Marcela received the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart at Banner Health University Medical Center in Tucson. Once she stabilized, she was transitioned to the Freedom portable driver and discharged home in January 2011, becoming the first woman in the United States to leave the hospital powered by the Freedom driver. She came home just in time for her 21st birthday. For 245 days, Marcela did not slow down. She took Santiago to the zoo, walked trails, rode her bike, and showed up for her son every single day. Then on May 27, 2011, the call came. Marcela received her donor heart. "You never know when it is going to be the last time. The artificial heart was my second chance." Today she hikes with Santiago, the same boy she was not sure she would get to watch grow up, and she does not take a single moment for granted. "After receiving my heart transplant, my life blossomed. I witnessed my son grow, achieved personal goals, established a home, traveled, and celebrated holidays with family. I emphasize the importance of seizing opportunities today, as tomorrow is uncertain." Marcela, thank you for sharing your story. You are the reason we do this work.

Connection is just as powerful as innovation. In this video, Ella Marshall shares what inspires her in her work at SynCardia, a standout moment from her time here, and what keeps her feeling deeply connected to the mission behind everything we do. What helps you stay connected to your work?

Behind every breakthrough in medicine is a hospital where it becomes reality. This National Hospital Week, SynCardia recognizes the cardiac centers, surgical teams, and hospital staff who make life saving care possible for patients with advanced heart failure. The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart has been implanted more than 2,100 times across 27 countries. That progress is made possible by hospitals that invest in new technology, train their teams, and commit to supporting their most critical patients while they wait for a donor heart. From the operating room, to the ICU, to discharge, every department plays a role in the patient journey. We are honored to work alongside institutions that share a commitment to advancing care and improving lives. To every hospital team doing this work every day, this week is for you.

To every nurse who has held a patient’s hand, stayed late to check on a chart, and shown up with both skill and heart, thank you. This National Nurses Week, SynCardia Systems recognizes the nurses who support our patients every day. Caring for a patient with a Total Artificial Heart requires precision, dedication, and a deep commitment to the person behind the diagnosis. Nurses bring all of that and more. They are central to the care teams at the hospitals and cardiac centers we partner with across the country, and their work is part of every patient success we celebrate. We are grateful for you. We see the work you do and we do not take it for granted.

A great day at University of Arizona College of Engineering Design Day! We had the opportunity to see our sponsored Capstone team present their project: “Durability Test Apparatus for SynCardia’s Emperor Total Artificial Heart (ETAH).” Their work advances how we test the reliability of total artificial hearts by creating a more compact and rigorous mock tank system. “I am proud of what our Capstone team has accomplished and grateful for their support,” said their SynCardia Systems, LLC mentor, Duffy Elmer. Congratulations to the team on an impressive achievement—we’re excited to see what’s next!

This May, we recognize the strength, resilience, and courage of women everywhere. Your health matters. Your heart matters. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Every woman deserves access to the best care and a clear understanding of her options. Awareness and conversation are how progress happens. At SynCardia Systems, we are proud to support patients with advanced heart failure with the only FDA and Health Canada approved Total Artificial Heart, helping sustain life while they await a donor heart. To the women, caregivers, and clinicians who show up for heart health every day, we recognize and celebrate you. Learn more at syncardia.com

Appreciate the opportunity to join The Mullings Group for this discussion on advanced heart failure and the evolving role of total artificial heart therapy. This interview features perspectives from Patrick NJ Schnegelsberg on current clinical use and ongoing development efforts. Watch the full conversation below.

SynCardia Systems is live in Toronto at ISHLT 2026 — the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation Annual Meeting. Our team is at our booth today through April 25, ready to discuss the latest advances in mechanical circulatory support and total artificial heart technology.  Dr. Andre Simon will be presenting as an abstract author, representing the cutting edge of what's possible in advanced cardiac care. If you're here in Toronto, come find us. We'd love to connect, answer questions, and keep the conversation going around the future of transplant and advanced heart failure care.

Some of our patients go back to morning walks. Others return to their gardens, their trails, the places that make them feel alive. The SynCardia Total Artificial Heart provides support while patients await transplant. But what patients do with that time? That's the part that stays with us. Happy Earth Day

Saturday was a good day.    The SynCardia team walked in the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Tucson, Arizona, and being surrounded by so many people united around the same cause was something truly special. The energy of the community coming together was a great reminder of what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself.   We work to give patients more time, and walks like this remind us just how precious that time is.   We are proud of this team, grateful for this community, and honored to play a role in the fight for heart health.