Berlin Heart GmbH announced it has received its first marketing approval in North America. The EXCOR(R) Pediatric ventricular assist device received the License with Conditions from Health Canada, the Federal Department responsible for regulatory issues in Canada.

The Berlin Heart EXCOR Pediatric is a mechanical cardiac support system for critically ill pediatric patients suffering from severe heart failure. EXCOR Pediatric has been used as a short-term, mid-term, and long-term support system, supporting failing hearts from days up to several months.

The system is designed to bridge patients awaiting heart transplantation until a donor heart becomes available, but has also been used successfully as a bridge to recovery when a patient's heart was able to recover and work on its own again. Unlike other VADs, EXCOR Pediatric can be used to support children of all age groups, from newborns up to teenagers…