January 20, 2021 — The U.S.
Heart Valve Technology
This channel includes news and new device innovations about heart valve technologies, including the aortic valve, mitral valve, pulmonic valve, and tricuspid valve. This includes information on transcatheter valve technologies like transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR, or implantation TAVI), transcatheter mitral valve repair or replacement (TMVR), transcatheter and surgical valve repairs, and surgical replacement valves. Newer devices are now being used for transcatheter tricuspid valve repair replacement (TTVR).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the designation of breakthrough device to P+F Products + Features GmbH TricValve Transcatheter Bicval Valves System. The system uses two self-expanding valves in the vena cava for the treatment of patients with hemodynamically relevant tricuspid insufficiency without the need to touch the native tricuspid valve.

COVID-19 related topics by far out-paced all other topics in cardiology in 2020 on the DAIC website. Several stories topped the list related to the cardiovascular issues with hydroxychloroquine being used as a treatment for the virus. Top new device technologies in 2020 included European approval of the Abbott Tendyne transcatheter mitral valve, FDA approval of Medtronic's new Micra AV pill-sized pacemaker, and FDA clearance of the first drug-eluting stent with short-duration dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT).

Some of the device technologies discussed in the TCT 2020 late-breaking trial sessions. Top left, the Medtronic Resolute Onyx stent was the first stent to receive FDA clearance for short duration dual-antiplatelet therapy, which was a big topic and subject of several sessions. Lower left, the Keystone TriGuard 3 TAVR embolic protection device did not demonstrate superiority over TAVR without use of embolic protection. Top right, the Abbott MitraClip was the subject of two studies, including use to aid heart transplant patients. Bottom right, the Boston Scientific Acurate neo TAVR valve performed below the Sapien 3 and CoreValve Evolut.