On-X LTI highlights mitral valve repair solution

ON-X  Life Technologies Inc. (On-X LTI) will introduce the Chord-X Mitral Valve Chordal Repair System at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting, which will be held from January 24 to 27 in San Diego, California. 

The system comprises the Chord-X Chordal Sizer, which is used for the accurate measurement of artificial chord length, the Chord-X Pre-Measured Loops designed to save OR time and standardize artificial chord replacement, and the Chord-X Adjustable Suture System, which is ideal for surgeons who prefer to adjust and customize chordal loop length. 

Designed based on On-X LTI's proprietary ePTFE suture, the Chord-X Mitral Valve Chordal Repair System will provide surgeons with new tools that can help simplify the procedure for mitral valve repair. The procedure generally involves the use of an annuloplasty ring. Some surgeons, however, have been adopting ePTFE suture in recent years to create artificial chords, a subvalvular structure of the mitral valve. Data suggest that repair of the valve annulus in combination with chordal repair is ideal for many patients. 

Mitral valve repair has gained general acceptance among heart surgeons in the U.S. and around the world. About 60,000 such procedures are performed annually in the U.S. alone.

"We are pleased to provide surgeons with innovative tools designed to help make mitral valve chordal replacement more reproducible and save OR time,” On-X LTI CEO Clyde Baker said. 

“We are appreciative of the excellent team of surgeons who have helped design this product and for our excellent product development team which produced this innovation," Mr. Baker added. 

The Austin, Texas-based privately held On-X Life Technologies offers a range of cardiac products designed to significantly improve patients’ quality of life. These products include mechanical heart valves for aortic and mitral valve replacements, the Chord-X Mitral Valve Chordal Repair System, Chord-X ePTFE Suture for chordal replacement, and the CarbonAid and CarbonMini to prevent air embolism during open-heart surgery.