Patents and Heart Valve Surgery - III: Percutaneous Heart Valves.

Advancements in technology for the treatment of valvularcardiac diseases seek to provide solutions for high risk patients in the form of percutaneous valve insertion for patients with complicated valvular disease not amenable to more traditional options. Within the last decade, cardiac valves designed for percutaneous insertion have emerged rapidly as a treatment option for valvular disease. This procedure serves as an alternative to open heart surgery, which is more invasive and requires longer ICU stay. Thus, the percutaneous valve insertion procedure has been used on older, frailer patients who are poor candidates for open heart surgery. Designs for percutaneous valve insertion systems have been in development for decades, but have only recently been approved by the FDA for use. Important considerations include stent design, valve design, balloon catheter design, and deployment method.