Edwards treats the first patient for Mitral Valve Disease

HARPOON Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System

Edwards Lifesciences announced that the first patient has been treated, in the RESTORE clinical trial, which will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the investigational HARPOON Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System in the United States and Canada. The HARPOON system uses a less-invasive technique than open-heart surgery to treat a type of heart disease called severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation, which occurs when there is damage to the mitral valve that prevents proper functioning of the valve. The procedure took place at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.

Vinod Thourani, M.D., National Principal Investigator of the RESTORE trial and Marcus Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery for Piedmont Healthcare, the Marcus Heart and Vascular Center and Marcus Heart Valve Center said: “Symptomatic patients with severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation can experience limitations in their day-to-day life ranging from reduced physical activity to more serious complications. Utilizing less invasive approaches, we can potentially reduce the need for traditional open-heart surgery and the hardships associated with a patient’s healing and recovery process.”

Daveen Chopra, Edwards’ Corporate Vice President, Surgical Structural Heart, said: “The HARPOON Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair System is a testament to Edwards’ commitment to the research and development of innovative, patient-focused technologies that have the potential to transform cardiac surgery. The RESTORE clinical trial will add to the growing body of evidence for the HARPOON system, which is also being evaluated, as part of the ASCEND post-market study in Europe.” 

The RESTORE clinical trial is an investigational device exempt study that will enroll and follow up to 360 patients who need mitral valve repair surgery due to severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. Degenerative mitral valve regurgitation is commonly caused, by mitral valve prolapse, which prevents the valve from closing properly, and causes blood to leak backwards as the heart contracts. The condition is associated with cardiovascular issues such as chest pain, shortness of breath and fatigue. In the most serious cases, it can lead to heart failure.

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