Cardiac Innovation: The TransForm McCarthy Mitral Repair Ring

In this video, Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Executive Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Medicine, explains the innovative TransForm McCarthy Mitral Annuloplasty Ring and how it is designed to advance mitral valve repair. During the interview, Dr. McCarthy describes how the ring can be compressed for use in minimally invasive procedures and how its patient-specific sizing approach helps surgeons achieve precise leaflet overlap and a durable repair.

Dr. McCarthy also discusses how the TransForm Mitral Valve Repair Ring was designed with the future in mind. Its shape may allow a transcatheter valve to be placed inside the ring if a repaired valve eventually fails, potentially helping some patients avoid another open-heart operation. This new procedure is known as a "valve-in-ring" operation. Lastly, Dr. McCarthy addresses encouraging early experience with approximately 150 successful implants and he explains why this technology may offer important benefits for patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. (Video posted on July 13, 2026)