Medtronic Launches New Heart Valve in the U.S.

Medtronic announced Tuesday the U.S. launch of its new CoreValve Evolut R system, the first recapturable and repositionable transcatheter heart valve system available in America, the Irish devicemaker says.

The product is indicated for transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with severe aortic stenosis who are at high or extreme risk for surgery. Aortic valve stenosis is a condition where the aortic valve narrows and limits blood flow to the rest of the body. Left untreated, it can lead to heart failure and death.

The system works by sealing the annulus while maintaining supra-annular valve positioning to improve blood flow and hemodynamic performance.

The system is also available in Europe. — Jason Scott