Hydrix Ltd has secured a new A$2.5 million contract to begin development work on SynCardia Systems’ next-generation fully implantable Total Artificial Heart, marking a significant milestone for the Australian engineering group in advanced medical technology.
The contract, awarded to Hydrix’s wholly owned subsidiary Hydrix Services Pty Ltd, covers an initial development phase of SynCardia’s next-generation Total Artificial Heart platform, known as the Emperor. The project is expected to be completed during the 2026 calendar year and represents the first stage of a broader, multi-year development program.
The Emperor program is structured as a staged development pathway, progressing through defined engineering, verification and regulatory milestones. Advancement between stages will depend on technical performance, safety validation outcomes, regulatory alignment and SynCardia’s funding position. The collaboration focuses on a ground-up systems architecture, incorporating electromechanical actuation, embedded software, advanced energy management and safety-critical redundancy.
SynCardia Systems CEO Patrick N.J. Schnegelsberg said the partnership would help advance a transformative technology for patients with advanced heart failure.
“Hydrix’s expertise and demonstrated track record in advancing complex cardiovascular technologies will support our shared objective of developing transformative solutions for patients with advanced heart failure. We are ready to advance the program into its next phase of development,” he said.
Hydrix Executive Chairman Gavin Coote said the contract validates the company’s capability in delivering complex, safety-critical medical device programs for global partners.
“We are excited to commence this critical development with SynCardia, a highly regarded global leader in advanced heart replacement technology. It endorses Hydrix’s capability to deliver complex, safety-critical medical device development programs for leading international medical technology companies,” Coote said.
Hydrix Services was selected following a competitive global process, reflecting its experience in mechanical circulatory support systems and highly regulated medical device development. The company will be responsible for developing the controller and a range of subsystem technologies, applying specialised electronics, software, mechanical, usability and safety-critical design engineering capabilities.
The project win further strengthens Hydrix’s position as a preferred global partner for complex, safety-critical cardiovascular technologies and aligns with its strategy of building long-term, high-value development programs with international medical device leaders.
SynCardia’s Emperor platform is being developed as a fully implantable total artificial heart system, designed to eliminate the need for external pneumatic drivers and expand long-term support options for patients. While SynCardia, as a subsidiary of Picard Medical, Inc. (NYSE American: PMI), retains overall responsibility for system architecture, regulatory sponsorship and clinical strategy, development partners such as Hydrix provide specialised engineering execution within this framework.
The collaboration highlights the growing role of advanced engineering and embedded systems expertise in next-generation medical devices, with implications for the broader intersection of healthcare technology, advanced manufacturing and smart systems development.
Image Credit: Hydrix.com
