Picard Medical, parent company of SynCardia Systems, maker of the world’s first U.S. and Canadian commercially-approved total artificial heart (TAH), has strengthened its intellectual property (IP) portfolio with a new patent.

U.S. Patent No. 12,383,722 B2 covers systems and methods related to the next-gen SynCardia TAH, the “Emperor.”

The recently granted patent relates to the apparatus, systems, and methods for enabling a next-gen total artificial heart that offers enhanced patient flexibility. It builds on earlier grants U.S. Patent No. 11,918,798 B2 and U.S. Patent No. 12,121,711 B2 to bring the company’s total number of patented claims in the U.S. to 34 covering its next-gen TAH system.

Picard Medical also holds Patent No. 115279450 B, which extends similar protection for the fully implantable platform in that jurisdiction. The Emperor is planned to be fully implantable and offer pulsatile flow without needing an external pneumatic driver.

“Our growing patent portfolio underscores SynCardia’s commitment to advancing our life-saving technology,” said Matt Schuster, COO of SynCardia. “The Emperor represents the future of treatment for end-stage heart failure patients. By securing 34 claims across three U.S. patents and extending protection into China, we have created a strong international foundation around our next-generation platform. Securing this patent marks an important milestone in protecting the innovation behind our fully implantable artificial heart and supports our goal for long-term market growth driven by IP-backed innovation.”

“We are building the foundation for SynCardia’s future by developing the world’s first fully implantable, durable, and patient-friendly total artificial heart,” added Patrick NJ Schnegelsberg, CEO of SynCardia. “Our patent portfolio secures the path from development to commercialization and positions us to help shape the future of heart replacement worldwide.”