St Jude Medical launches Trifecta surgical valve in Europe

St Jude Medical has announced the launch of its new Trifecta surgical valve, for the treatment of diseased, damaged or malfunctioning aortic heart valves, in Europe.

The advanced tissue valve comes equipped with Glide Technology, providing enhanced valve delivery to facilitate implantation in challenging anatomies. The device has been granted CE Mark approval, with the first implantation recently performed at a hospital in Brussels.

It is designed to be easier to implant than the original version of the Trifecta valve, while retaining its optimal haemodynamic performance, and helping to reduce wear and deterioration over time.

Tissue aortic valve replacements can improve quality of life for patients suffering heart failure or aortic regurgitation, easing their symptoms and ultimately prolonging their lives.

Philip Ebeling, vice-president and chief technology officer at St Jude Medical, said: "The Trifecta GT tissue valve is a true testament to our commitment to the cardiac surgery community and the patients they treat."

The company also launched its new Axium Neurostimulator System for dorsal root ganglion stimulation in the US this week.