Cardiosolutions Percu-Pro System
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The Cardiosolutions Percu-Pro System is astounding in its simplicity yet extraordinary in function. The device consists of a proprietary spacing implant and a catheter based delivery system that deploys the implant into the mitral annulus. The catheter is inserted into the femoral vein of the leg. The catheter is then advanced through the venous system into the left atrium using a trans-septal approach. The trans-septal approach regularly used by interventional cardiologists amounts to punching a tiny hole in the septum, or wall that divides the right and left sides of the heart, and pushing the catheter through that hole. The implant is located inside the end of the catheter. The implant consists of a “spacer”, which resembles a small paddle coupled to an anchor by a shaft. The implant resembles a lollypop on a stick and at the end of the stick is a small metal spiral that anchors into the bottom of the heart. The implant is maneuvered through the left atrium down into the left ventricle where the shaft and anchor are then twisted to bite into the cardiac tissue at the base of the ventricle. The paddle end projects into the mitral cavity providing the mitral leaflets coaptation, or a surface for the leaflets to close up against. The surface of the “spacer” may be treated with an anticoagulant or endothelializing agent. The leaflets now will be pushed open during atrial contraction to allow blood to flow from the atrium to the ventricle and they will be pushed back against the "paddle" upon ventricular contraction, effectively closing the valve and preventing regurgitation back into the atrium. The device will be held in place by the anchor and should not migrate due to the surrounding heart structure. The catheter is then retracted and the femoral vein closed using a mechanical closing device or manual pressure. The total time for the procedure should be less than 45 minutes.