JC Medical today announced the first clinical procedure using its transfemoral J-Valve TF transcatheter aortic valve implant system designed to treat aortic regurgitation.

The procedure, performed at Vancouver’s St. Paul’s Hospital by Dr. John Webb, marks the first in-human use of the transfemoral TAVI device, the China-based company said.

JC Medical’s J-Valve System is designed to restore normal blood flow out of the heart and into the body, which may improve symptoms of heart failure such as shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain, the company said. The devices feature a proprietary anchor mechanism that does not require calcification for fixation and that is flexibly linked to a self-expanding stent frame to uniquely attach to the failing native heart valve.

“We are very pleased that our J-Valve could help this patient. We developed the J-Valve to be reliable and easy to use. We thank the physician group who has recognized this unique clinical solution. With approximately 2% of the elderly population having heart failure due to a defective stenotic aortic valve and 1% due to a regurgitant valve, this leads to a significant decrease in the quality of life, the loss of life for many, and costs the healthcare system billions of dollars annually. We look forward to further exploring the promise of J-Valve and its role in treating failing aortic heart valves,” founder & CEO Dr. Ji Zhang said in a prepared statement.

The company’s J-Valve system won Chinese FDA approval last April, and is currently only available for sale in China.

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