Article preview reprinted from Start Up - June 2009
Today, mitral valve repair and replacement procedures involve opening the chest and stopping the heart. Hence, many patients who might otherwise benefit from therapy are excluded because they are either too ill or not ill enough to justify the risk. A percutaneous mitral valve replacement system in development from CardiAQ Valve Technologies intends to significantly reduce that risk by using a catheter to deliver a new mitral valve.
CardiAQ Valve Technologies
Article preview reprinted from Start Up - June 2009
Today, mitral valve repair and replacement procedures involve opening the chest and stopping the heart. Hence, many patients who might otherwise benefit from therapy are excluded because they are either too ill or not ill enough to justify the risk. A percutaneous mitral valve replacement system in development from CardiAQ Valve Technologies intends to significantly reduce that risk by using a catheter to deliver a new mitral valve.
A percutaneous mitral valve replacement (PMVR) system in development from CardiAQ Valve Technologies Inc. (CVT) intends to significantly reduce procedural risk by using a catheter to deliver a new mitral valve that can attach firmly to the base of the native valve, without the need for radial force (a strong force applied outward against the wall of a vessel).
The company is initially targeting high-risk, inoperable patients suffering from severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR), a failure of the mitral valve leaflets to close properly. MR is caused by a variety of conditions, including mitral valve prolapse, chordal rupture, and functional heart disease. As the left ventricle attempts to force blood through the aorta and into the rest of the body, blood regurgitates back into the left atrium. As a result, the heart must work harder to overcome these inefficiencies. Short-term symptoms may include dizziness, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Eventually, heart failure occurs, which can ultimately lead to death.
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Companies mentioned in this article:
CardiAQ Valve Technologies Inc.
Cardiac Dimensions Inc.
Endovalve Inc.
Evalve Inc.
Medtronic Inc.
Medtronic CoreValve LLC
Viacor Inc.
Related articles:
Percutaneous Heart Valve Technology: The Mitral Challenge, Medtech Insight 2/2009
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