CARMAT and BULL announce the development of a portable equipment for the recipients of CARMAT's artificial heart

The power and control system will be used at home or when travelling by the early recipients of CARMAT's artificial heart

Paris, July  12, 2011 -

CARMAT (FR0010907956, ALCAR), the designer and developer of the world's most advanced total artificial heart, and Bull (via its subsidiary Amesys, a leader in mission-critical system architecture) today announced their agreement regarding the supply of a power system.

Under the terms of this agreement, Amesys will develop a portable system that will enable patients to move around independently and safely in their daily activities. The user-friendly equipment will allow the patient to live at home and to travel around. This system will be available by early 2012, in order to be available for the home discharge of the early, clinical phase recipients of the CARMAT artificial heart.

"This agreement with Bull will enable the first patients to return home under good conditions", emphasized CARMAT CEO Marcello Conviti. "The patient's quality of life has always been a crucial element in CARMAT's development philosophy".

"We are delighted with this collaboration and CARMAT's renewed confidence. Our demanding standards of development as well as our expertise in mission-critical systems are at CARMAT's full disposal", added Olivier Jolland (Chief Operating Officer at Amesys). "We shall have to find a balance between mobility, autonomy and maximum reliability for the CARMAT system", he added.

CARMAT offers a response to a major public health issue associated with heart disease, the world's leading cause of death: chronic and acute heart failure. Indeed, heart failure currently affects over 20 million patients in developed countries. By pursuing the development of its total artificial heart, CARMAT intends to overcome the well-known shortfall in heart transplants for the tens of thousands of people suffering from advanced heart failure

The Bull subsidiary Amesys has already provided CARMAT with monitoring equipment that will be used in hospital, during the post-surgery phase and for follow-up visits. These specific solutions call on Amesys' acknowledged skills in the integration and management of mission-critical systems projects that combine high-reliability electronic and mechanical modules.

About CARMAT: CARMAT, the world's most advanced total artificial heart project.

The only credible response for all cases of end-stage heart failure, which is a real public health issue: CARMAT aims is to provide a response to a major public health issue associated with heart disease, the world's leading cause of death: chronic and acute heart failure. Indeed, this disease currently affects over 20 million patients in developed countries. By pursuing the development of its total artificial heart, CARMAT intends to overcome the well-known shortfall in heart transplants for the tens of thousands of people suffering from advanced heart failure.

The result of combining two types of unique expertise: the medical expertise of Professor Carpentier, known throughout the world for inventing Carpentier-Edwards® heart valves, which are the most used in the world, and the technological expertise of EADS, world aerospace leader.

Imitating the natural heart: given its size, its weight, the choice of structural materials and its innovative physiological functions, CARMAT's total artificial heart could, assuming upcoming clinical trials are successful, potentially benefit the lives of tens of thousands of patients a year whilst ensuring there is no risk of rejection and providing them with an unparalleled quality of life.

A project leader acknowledged at a European level: with the backing of the European Commission, CARMAT has been granted the largest subsidy ever given to an SME by OSEO; a total of €33 million.

Strongly committed, prestigious founders and shareholders: Truffle Capital (the leading European venture capital firm), EADS, the Foundation Alain Carpentier and the thousands of institutional and individual shareholders who have placed their trust in CARMAT.

For more information: www.carmatsas.com

Press contact: 

CARMAT
Valérie Leroy,
Director, Marketing & Investor Relations
Tel. : +33 (0)1 39 45 64 50
investisseurs@carmatsas.com

Alizé RP - Corporate communications/ press relations
Caroline Carmagnol
Tel.: +33 (0)1 42 68 86 43
caroline@alizerp.com

About Bull

Bull is a leader in secure mission-critical digital systems. The Group is dedicated to developing and implementing solutions where computing power and security serve to optimize its customers' information systems, to support their business.

Bull operates in high added-value markets including computer simulation, Cloud computing and 'computing power plants', outsourcing and security.

Currently Bull employs around 9,000 people across more than 50 countries, with over 700 staff totally focused on R&D. In 2011, Bull recorded revenues of €1.3 billion.

For more information visit: http://www.bull.com
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