Like many of you, I’m fascinated by the possibilities of medical technology.

Specific to heart valve treatment, I continue to talk with many patients, caregivers, physicians and industry experts about catheter-based technologies for heart valve repair and heart valve replacement. Recently, the frequency of those conversations has increased. So, to make sure you are aware of the latest news about transcatheter valve devices, here are some interesting updates.

• St. Jude Medical announced the first implant of the Portico aortic valve implant via catheter in its European clinical trial. This trial will support St. Jude’s effort to win CE Mark approval for commercial use in Europe. The trial is specifically designed for patients with severe aortic stenosis (narrow heart valve) who are considered too high risk for traditional open heart valve replacement through the sternum or ribs. To learn more, please click here.

Portico Aortic Valve Replacement (St. Jude Medical)

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Big, big, big, biggggggg news everybody!

I just learned that the Edwards SAPIEN Aortic Valve has received FDA approval for “inoperable” patients. On the heels of this exciting announcement, there are several implications for patients and caregivers that should be considered.

Edwards SAPIEN Heart Valve Replacement

First… This is the first time that a transcatheter therapy has been approved by the FDA for aortic valve treatment. Using SAPIEN, physicians deploy a catheter-based delivery system to replace a diseased aortic valve without any incision to the patient’s sternum or ribs.

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Needless to say, this is a very exciting time in the development of heart valve therapies. In my opinion, this segment of cardiac care just became even more exciting as ValveXchange reported the first-in-man (FIM) implant of its two-part, heart valve replacement system.

“What is a two-part heart valve replacement system?” you might be wondering.

As shown above, the first part of the surgical system is the permanent implant of the Vitality base within the valve.

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As many of you know… I’m a technology enthusiast. In fact, I’m often referred to as a “tech geek” by my friends — always playing around with the latest gadgets and software.

Specific to heart valve treatment, my interest in medical technology is similarly high. Today, much of the tech-excitement is centered on transcatheter, sutureless and leaflet exchange technology. However, I’m still fascinated by the utility of robotic devices for procedures including mitral valve repair procedures.

Da Vinci Surgical Robot

That said, I just saw an amazing video created by Dr. Charles Anderson, a cardiac surgeon and robotic specialist from MultiCare Healthcare System in Tacoma, Washington.  In this video, Dr. Anderson uses the Da Vinci Surgical Robot to paint a miniature Van Gogh… You gotta see this to believe it.

So, I guess if you need a robotic mitral valve repair or an impressive van Gogh look-alike… Dr. Anderson is your man.

To see Dr. Anderson perform a mitral valve repair using the Da Vinci robot, please click here.

Keep on tickin!

On the heels of the FDA approval for its Trifecta heart valve replacement, St. Jude Medical just announced that Dr. John Webb of St. Paul’s Hospital in Canada has completed the first human implant of the new Portico aortic valve replacement.

Portico Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement – Side View
(St. Jude Medical)

The Portico heart valve replacement falls into a “next generation” category of transcatheter devices that do not require the patient’s sternum or ribs to be broken during implant – via median sternotomy or thoracotomy. Instead, the Portico aortic valve replacement is implanted in the heart using a catheter inserted through the femoral artery or the left ventricle.

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