Corcym and CardioPrecision Unveil Robotic Heart Valve Surgery Innovation

In a significant advancement for cardiac surgery, Corcym and CardioPrecision have joined forces to develop a novel robotic approach to aortic valve replacement. This collaboration aims to combine the benefits of minimally invasive procedures with the long-term advantages of traditional open-heart surgery.

A New Frontier in Aortic Valve Replacement

The innovative procedure, dubbed AVATAR (Advanced Videoscopic Aortic Surgery by Transcervical Approach using Robot Assistance), utilizes Corcym's FDA-approved Perceval valve and CardioPrecision's specialized CoreVista retractor system. This approach allows surgeons to perform aortic valve replacement through a small incision at the base of the neck, guided by robotic assistance.

Christian Mazzi, CEO of Corcym, emphasized the procedure's unique advantage: "The real crux of the difference between TAVR and a surgical approach like ours is that in surgery, you have the ability to go in and remove the diseased tissue and kind of reset the anatomy so it can be perfectly receiving the new valve. You cannot do that in TAVR."

Clinical Milestones and Collaborative Efforts

In August, the first valve replacement using this robotically assisted procedure was successfully performed at the Cleveland Clinic, utilizing an Intuitive Surgical da Vinci robot. Several more procedures have since been conducted, marking a significant milestone in the development of this technology.

Fraser Sutherland, chief medical officer of CardioPrecision and a cardiothoracic surgeon, highlighted the procedure's appeal: "We know that surgery offers the best long-term outcome, but when you're facing an operation, the long term is one thing, but the short term is right there in front of you. And people want something that's a lot less invasive."

Technological Synergy and Patient Benefits

The AVATAR procedure combines Corcym's sutureless valve technology with CardioPrecision's delivery system. The valve is collapsed to a fraction of its full size, inserted through the neck incision, and guided to the heart. CardioPrecision's retractor creates an opening for valve delivery while providing visual guidance through a mounted camera.

Mazzi noted the efficiency of the sutureless valve: "Any other valve, you have to painstakingly sew it in." This design allows for faster deployment compared to traditional surgical valves.

Sutherland added that the neck area typically heals quickly due to strong blood supply, potentially leading to faster patient recovery. The procedure aims to reduce pain, scarring, and recovery time compared to conventional surgery while maintaining the long-term benefits of open-heart techniques.

As cardiac surgery continues to evolve, this collaboration between Corcym, CardioPrecision, and Intuitive Surgical represents a significant step towards less invasive, yet highly effective heart valve treatments. The medical community will be watching closely as this innovative approach undergoes further clinical evaluation and development.