Medical device makers Symetis Inc. and Endoluminal Sciences are reaching across oceans to co-develop a new generation of transcatheter aortic valve implantation systems featuring "active anti-paravalvular leak technology."
The duo entered into a license agreement to incorporate Endoluminal Sciences’ anti-leak system into Symetis’ Acurate TA and Acurate TF product lines, according to a press release.
Paravalvular leak, or aortic regurgitation, is one of the biggest challenges with TAVI technology, increasing a patient’s mortality risk. Leaks have been more common with valves implanted via catheter compared with valves implanted via open surgery, but newer generations of the minimally invasive TAVI systems are addressing those risks.
Unlike other "passive" leak prevention methods, including Symetis’ own Self-Sealing technology, Endoluminal Sciences’ proprietary "swelling polymer and membrane technology" is a so-called ‘active’ method, the companies said. The partnership plays into Symetis’ ZeroLeak initiative, aimed at eliminating paravalvular leakage for all valve repair patients.
"Our initial in-vitro evaluation confirmed that Endoluminal Sciences’ sealing technology has the potential to address PVL in the most challenging calcification patterns," Symetis R&D vice president Stéphane Delaloye said in prepared remarks. "Mounting this novel technology onto our Acurate TAVI platform will allow us to further reduce PVL for the benefit of all patients."
