Combination Annuloplasty Ring Treats Tricuspid Valve Disease

A new semi-flexible annuloplasty ring adapts to the movement of a diseased patient's natural valve, helping to restore it to its normal size and shape.

The Medtronic Tri-Ad annuloplasty ring is an implantable annular ring that is in part flexible and in part semi-rigid; while the semi-rigid component corrects the main lesion seen in tricuspid regurgitation (TR), the flexible sections help to protect the delicate surrounding tissues. The combination of the two components is designed to correct the dilated and leaking portion of the valve, thereby preserving the natural motion of the heart as it beats. The Medtronic Tri-Ad annuloplasty ring is a product of Medtronic (Fridley, MN, USA), and has received the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


"The Tri-Ad semi-flexible tricuspid ring is an important addition to Medtronic's tricuspid valve repair product portfolio, which includes three other flexible annuloplasty products,” said Robert Perry, vice president of surgical based therapies at Medtronic. "Medtronic now has the most complete heart tricuspid valve repair product portfolio for cardiac surgeons, which was made possible in part by our acquisition of ATS Medical. We look forward to introducing additional future surgical repair solutions to improve clinical outcomes.”

"The Tri-Ad tricuspid valve ring is a significant advance in the treatment of tricuspid valve disease. Its unique design reestablishes the normal anatomy of the tricuspid valve annulus,” said David Fullerton, MD, of the University of Denver (CO, USA), who implanted one of the first Tri-Ad rings. "The ring is stiff in exactly the proper position, and the flexible segments distinguish the ring from any of the available tricuspid rings. It will change the way therapy is delivered to the tricuspid valve.”

Tricuspid dilatation is a progressive disease that leads to severe TR, which occurs when the tricuspid valve leaflets do not close properly, allowing blood to flow opposite of the intended direction. For patients with significant dilation of the tricuspid annulus, surgeons typically recommend surgical repair with an annuloplasty ring or band to provide support and relieve stress on the native annulus, where the valve can be stretched and leaking.

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