General Cardiac Technology was founded by Glenn Williams. In 1984, Mr. Williams underwent cardiovascular bypass surgery. During his recovery in the hospital he was given a pillow and shown how to squeeze it to splint his sternotomy. He found the pillow provided only limited support when he coughed or sneezed and of little use when he was asked to get out of bed and walk during his inpatient recovery. It occurred to him that if he had a device that wrapped all the way around his sternum and gave him the ability to apply an even encircling pressure whenever he needed it, his comfort level would improve and he'd place less strain on the wound.

Over the next months, Mr. Williams developed Heart Hugger™ Sternum Support Harness. Four years later, he founded General Cardiac Technology to manufacture, market and distribute Heart Hugger™. Since then Heart Hugger™ has gained international acceptance.

Today, Heart Hugger™ is part of the recovery process for CABG, Heart Valve replacement, and Thoracic surgery patients in more than 220 U.S. Hospitals and over 340 heart programs world-wide. Why?

The Locus of Control Theory suggests that when patients are actively involved in their own recovery, they develop confidence and independence, enhancing their recovery. Because it is patient operated, Heart Hugger™ actively involves patients in their recovery, offering them full time pain management literally at their fingertips, leading to improved compliance during recovery.

Generally the top priority goals facing Sternotomy and Thoracotomy patients during recovery are:

Not meeting these goals can result in wound complications like dehiscence and mediastinitis, or pulmonary complications like atelectasis and pneumonia, removing the patient from the clinical pathway. The next step may be readmission to the hospital (or ICU), much pain and suffering for the patient and a financial burden to the hospital.

Heart Hugger™ gives the patient full time control over wound stress. Worn over their clothing in the hospital and after discharge, indoors and out, it remains loose and passive until it is needed. Anytime a patient is coughing, sneezing or ambulating, they simply squeeze the handles together, tightening the chest belt, encircling the entire rib cage with uniform pressure, laterally splinting the surgical wound and reducing pain.

The increase in confidence and independence patients derive from Heart Hugger™ enables them to become more aggressive with their Respiratory Therapy exercises (they are not afraid to cough), increases their incentive spirometer performance and gets them back to their pre-op respiratory levels faster, while supporting their surgical wound. They may even call for less pain medication.

Heart Hugger™ is worn for 4-6 weeks post-discharge. Most complications arise from the 10th-21st day post-op. Heart Hugger™ offers effective support when patients are at home, out of your care and most at risk.

Heart Hugger™ is U.S. FDA Classified as a Therapeutic Medical Binder, it is Medicare Approved and conforms to the European Medical Device Directive.