The current state
We address the absence of an intra-operative evaluation tool during valve-sparing aortic root replacement and aortic valve repair operations.
A valve-sparing aortic root replacement procedure is recommended by the ESC/EACTS (Guidelines for the management of valvular heart disease), in patients with aortic root aneurism. The alternative, a composite valved graft replacement procedure (i.e. Bentall of Biobentall procedure) is less preferable due to the disadvantages of a prosthetic valve.
On a yearly basis, we estimate the number of operations in continental Europe, for aortic root enlargement and valve regurgitation to be 6,300 patients.
At this point the operative procedure does not allow the team to inspect the spared or repaired aortic valve in a detailed way during the operation, simply because no tool or inspection method exists to date.
We set out to contribute to a solution for this problem.
Our Proposition
The AVP device offers relief from this burdensome and costly procedure by providing a direct method to visually check and actively measure the valve condition on the spot.
In sum the benefits are:
Enabling visual assessment and evaluation of local and specific valve geometry information of the functioning valve, on heart arrested, before coronary artery reimplantation.
Shortens operation time by enabling performance testing in-operation improves result of the procedure with lower risk of technical complications.
Decreases perceived operational risk supporting avoidance of reiterating procedure, and thereby wider access to valve-sparing operations