Adult Heart Valve
Industry: Heart valve replacement
Currently, around 300,000 heart valve replacements are performed every year around the world. These replacement valves leave much to be desired in terms of durability, function and upkeep.
This new technology enhances polymeric heart valves with hyaluronan, a chemical found throughout the body’s connective tissue. The chemical improves the valve’s leaflets, which open and close to control blood flow, and it has strong anti-coagulation attributes, which are critical to the valve’s longevity.
With the capability to adjust size as the patient grows, the adult heart valve technology addresses several key shortcomings of current replacement valves. The project has moved into in vitro and in vivo studies in anticipation of pre-clinical trials.
