Today the market needs an easily implantable bio-prosthetic valve

Heart valves prevent the back flow of blood, which ensures that the blood flows in the right direction through the body. The first step in the treatment of heart valve disease is to put the patient on medication and practise so-called “watchful waiting”. When the disease progresses further, surgery is required. Heart valves are repaired when possible (30% of cases) or replaced by a man-made heart valve (70% of cases).

In the early 1950s the first mechanical valve was developed opening the way for the first generation of heart valves, mechanical valves. In the late 1960s, bioprosthetic valves were developed, opening the way for the second generation of heart valves, biological valves with stents and stentless biological valves. Today, the market requires a third generation of bioprosthetic valves to increase the quality of life of patients and facilitate surgery.