St. Jude Medical’s new pericardial aortic stented tissue valve, the Trifecta, has been granted CE Mark of approval by the European authorities.
Some details about the implant:
The next-generation tissue valve has a tri-leaflet stented pericardial design which offers excellent hemodynamic performance, or nearly unobstructed blood flow, in order to mimic as closely as possible the flow of a natural, healthy heart. The unique valve design includes leaflets manufactured from pericardial tissue attached to the exterior of the valve stent which open more fully and efficiently to perform like a natural heart valve.
The valve’s titanium stent, which provides a fatigue resistant frame to support the valve within a patient’s heart, is covered with pericardial tissue to allow tissue-to-tissue contact when the leaflets open and close, which reduces the amount of wear and deterioration. Additional attributes contributing to the Trifecta valve’s durability include proprietary tissue fixation and St. Jude Medical’s patented Linx(TM) AC Technology, an anticalcification treatment designed to reduce tissue mineralization (hardening).
“The Trifecta valve’s superior hemodynamic performance helps to make it very attractive for aortic valve replacement, especially in a small aortic annulus,” said Professor Volkmar Falk, Chair of the Division of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery at University Hospital Zurich. “The construction and design of the Trifecta valve allows it to work seamlessly with the patient’s heart to generate adequate blood flow, which can offer patients an improved quality of life.”
Press release: St. Jude Medical Receives CE Mark Approval for Trifecta Valve …
