Nov 19 2010
Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced the global launch and first clinical use of the Tri-Ad™ Semi-Flexible Tricuspid Annuloplasty Ring for the treatment of tricuspid valve disease. The ring is designed to adapt to the movement of a diseased patient's natural valve to help restore the valve to its normal size and shape. The Tri-Ad ring recently received clearance for use in the U.S. and Europe, expanding Medtronic's surgical heart valve repair product portfolio.
“The Tri-Ad ring has a rigid component to correct the main lesion seen in tricuspid regurgitation, in combination with completely flexible sections to protect delicate tissue.”
Tricuspid dilatation is a progressive disease that eventually leads to severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), which occurs when the tricuspid valve leaflets do not close properly, allowing blood to flow opposite of the intended direction. For patients with significant dilation of the tricuspid annulus (or opening), surgeons typically recommend surgical repair with an annuloplasty ring or band to provide support and relieve stress on the native annulus, where the valve can be stretched and leaking.
"Our understanding of the complex 3-dimensional nature of the tricuspid valve has progressed over the past several years due to advances in imaging. We have translated this knowledge into a new concept that combines the characteristics of the currently available tricuspid rings, which up until now have been completely rigid or completely flexible," said David H. Adams, M.D., chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center and lead developer of the Tri-Ad ring. "The Tri-Ad ring has a rigid component to correct the main lesion seen in tricuspid regurgitation, in combination with completely flexible sections to protect delicate tissue."
Source: Medtronic, Inc.