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Valtech Cardio's Cardioband system brings direct annuloplasty to the field of percutaneous coronary intervention—for catheter-based mitral valve repair and now, tricuspid valve repair.

A team from the University Hospital Zurich led by Francesco Maisano, MD recently succeeded in the first ever minimally invasive procedure using Cardioband to repair a leaky tricuspid valve, according to yesterday's press release from the University of Zurich.

The news comes shortly after Valtech shared follow-up data from a multi-center Cardioband Mitral study at the PCR London Valves 2016 conference. Results showed a "significant and consistent reduction in MR" with a "safety profile similar to equivalent transcatheter procedures" according to the session slides.

Continue reading Cath innovation: Cardioband repairs first leaky tricuspid

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration approved Abbott's Absorb stent, the first fully dissolving stent to be approved by the FDA.

A 10-person FDA advisory panel, including Dr. George Vetrovec of Virginia Commonwealth University, voted unanimously in March to affirm that the stent's benefits and efficacy outweigh its risks. The same panel voted 9-1 in favor of its safety profile, despite the risk of blood clots for some patients.

"This is presumably a better technology going forward - at least that's the theory - but it will take years to prove," said Vetrovec to the Associated Press.

FDA approves Absorb with advisory panel warning

Continue reading “Absorb” Approved; Bioresorbable, Drug-coated Stent to Roll Out “in a Phased Way”