PHASED READINESS TESTING OF IMPLANTABLE TAH

The purpose of this program are to complete the development of
electrically powered, totally implantable artificial heart (TAH) systems
and establish the reliability, performance and manufacturability of these
TAH systems as a prerequisite to consideration for an NHLBI Clinical
Trial. Phase I (3 years; up to four contracts) comprises design completion,
demonstration of manufacturability, performance testing in animals and
demonstration of the contractor's capability to begin Phase II device
readiness testing. Phase II (4 years; less than four contracts) will
provide support for those contractors who successfully complete Phase I
and are judged meritorious by peer-review. Phase II consists of in vitro
reliability and in vivo animal testing of tether-free implantable total
artificial heart systems.