The 10 greatest medtech advances of the 2010s

2. TAVR

Edwards Lifesciences’ Sapien 3 Ultra TAVR [Image courtesy of Edwards Lifesciences]

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that replaces and repairs damaged heart valves. The procedure places a replacement valve where the aortic valve is, according to the American Heart Association. It is inserted similarly to a stent in that the valve is fully collapsible and delivered to the valve site through a catheter.

The procedure was initially used as a last-chance option for people with severe aortic disease, but the procedure saw ever-expanding indications through the 2010s. Recent studies suggest TAVR overall could be a safe alternative to traditional surgery. The FDA in August 2019 cleared heart valves made by Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW) for use in patients at low risk from open-heart surgery.

The success of TAVR has sparked a race to commercialize transcatheter mitral valve replacement devices. – DK