Novel Cardiac Implants and Associated Catheter Systems to Treat Malfunctioning Cardiac Valves

Unmet Need
A common heart disorder seen in thousands of patients per year is regurgitation, a condition where the heart’s valves do not close sufficiently during systolic contraction, allowing for blood to leak from the ventricle into the atrium. This leakage varies from moderate to severe, and at high levels can put the patient at risk of many other heart disorders such as frailty and pulmonary hypertension. There have been many challenges in the development of a technology to address this issue due to the structural complexity of the heart’s valves, as well as the intricacies of the heart’s contractive mechanism. It is critical to find an effective and noninvasive treatment for regurgitation as an early preventative measure for many other heart diseases.
Technology Overview
This invention is a set of novel implants and their associated catheter systems that will be able to treat cardiac valve regurgitation disease. This system can be inserted via catheters, providing a minimally invasive method of implant insertion that lowers the cost from a typical open heart surgery. The technology acts as a detachable plug that works in cooperation with the leaflets of the heart valves, improving their coaptation during rhythmic contractions. This method improves on already existing transcatheter systems by offering self-centering capabilities, reducing drag and friction, and allowing for easy replacement if any complications are to arise post-insertion. In addition, the system is patient specific and offers a variety of models to optimize its application.
Stage of Development
Early proof of concept/pre-clinical stage
Publications
ME Guerrero, et al. “Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement Therapies.” Am. College of Cardiology (April 28, 2017).

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