The Left Atrium Unloading Device (LAUD): A New Standard for Advanced Heart Failure Care
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive, life-limiting condition that affects millions—and for patients in late-stage HF (NYHA Class III-IV or AHA Stage D), treatment options remain limited and highly invasive. The Left Atrium Unloading Device (LAUD) by Cardiost is being developed to address this unmet clinical need with a fully implantable, less-invasive, durable mechanical circulatory support (MCS) solution.
Traditional MCS devices like the HeartMate 3 have demonstrated significant improvements in both survival and quality of life for end-stage HF patients, whether used as bridge-to-transplant (BTT) or destination therapy (DT). However, of the estimated 60,000 U.S. patients annually who could benefit from durable MCS, only 3,000 to 3,500 currently receive it. The barriers? Highly invasive procedures (e.g., sternotomy), driveline-related complications, limited device compatibility with HFpEF patients, and a lack of scalable alternatives.
LAUD is engineered to address these limitations. It is designed for thoracoscopic implantation, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery. Unlike current LVADs that aim to replace left ventricular (LV) function, Cardiost’s approach supports the circulation by unloading the left atrium (LA)—reducing pulmonary congestion, lowering afterload, and enabling the heart to work more efficiently without physically intervening with the LV. In short, the LAUD is a pump working in parallel with a weakened heart, supplementing its diminished cardiac output.
A Patient-Centered Approach, Built Around Five Core Principles:
Improved Quality of Life
LAUD empowers patients to move from dependency to greater independence, improving daily function and well-being.Minimally Invasive Procedure
Thoracoscopic implantation significantly reduces surgical trauma, risk, and recovery time compared to traditional MCS options.Disease Modification Without LV Compromise
By reducing LA pressure and optimizing blood flow, LAUD lightens the heart's workload without impairing the integrity of the LV muscle.Reduced Pulmonary Congestion and Afterload
Alleviating back pressure from the lungs helps minimize breathlessness and hospitalizations.Lower Cost of Care
Fewer readmissions, shorter hospital stays, and improved quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) translate into measurable system-wide savings.
Why LAUD Matters
Initial simulations suggest that LAUD could boost cardiac output by up to 33%, improving systemic oxygen delivery and reducing the cascade of symptoms that follow circulatory decline. As a fully implantable, long-term solution, it offers hope to a broader patient population—especially those with HFpEF, for whom no MCS devices are currently FDA-approved.
While the current standard of care for HF relies heavily on complex pharmacological regimens that many late-stage patients cannot tolerate, LAUD offers a mechanical alternative that is simpler, safer, and potentially more effective—especially for those ineligible for heart transplant or conventional LVADs.
The Bottom Line
Cardiost’s LAUD has the potential to redefine care standards for advanced heart failure, filling the gap between ineffective medication management and highly invasive interventions. For patients, providers, and payers, this means a future with better outcomes, lower costs, and fewer compromises.
Left Atrium Unloading Device (LAUD)
