For Patients Diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease

If you have been diagnosed with mitral valve disease, and your doctor recommends a mitral valve replacement, you have options to restore your heart’s function and enhance your quality of life.

How Your Heart Works

The mitral valve moves with each heartbeat to ensure the blood moves smoothly.

It allows oxygen rich blood to flow from the lungs, through the heart, and to the whole body. The mitral valve keeps your heart pumping normally and helps maintain a healthy body.

However, when the mitral valve stops working properly, it can lead to health issues. To restore your heart’s function, your doctor may recommend a replacement of your mitral valve.

Understanding the Need for Mitral Valve Replacement

The mitral valve can be damaged by bacteria like streptococcus (which can cause rheumatic heart disease) or by aging. When the valve malfunctions – whether it narrows (stenosis) or leaks (regurgitation) – it can lead to serious problems like heart failure, irregular heartbeats, and stroke.

Mitral Valve Stenosis and Regurgitation

Normal Mitral Valve

A healthy mirtal valve allows smooth, one-way oxygenated blood flow through your heart.

Narrowed Mitral Valve

A mitral valve with stenosis restricts blood flow, while regurgitation causes backflow, leading to impaired heart function.

Mitral Valve Replacement Options

Mechanical valves last a long time but they click every time your heart beats. Additionally you have to take blood thinners for the rest of your life to prevent blood clots.

Image: Abbott Mechanical Heart Valve

Tissue valves typically don’t require long-term blood thinners or produce clicking sounds, but mitral tissue valves usually last less than 7 years due to calcium buildup on the leaflets, often necessitating replacement surgery. ⁶

Image: Medtronic Tissue Heart Valve

TRIA™ Mitral Valves

TRIA™ Mitral valves are designed to last a lifetime with the potential to reduce or stop long-term blood-thinners, which can be expensive and present health risks.

The TRIA™ Mitral valves are quiet and the LifePolymer™ material is formulated to resist calcification and blood clots. ^1,2

Comparing Valve Replacement Options ⁶

Current heart valve replacement options force patients into a difficult choice between durability and freedom from long-term medications, each with drawbacks that place significant burdens on patients and healthcare systems.

These limitations result in frequent medical interventions, costly long-term treatments, and compromised patient quality of life.  

TRIA™ Mitral Valves aim to offer the advantages of both mechanical and tissue valves without the common quality-of-life trade-offs.

Mechanical Valves

Material

Pyrolytic Carbon

Durability

Last a Lifetime

Blood Thinner Medication⁷

Lifelong Use Required

Performance Limitations ⁷

Blood Clots, Bleeding, Blood Cell Damage

Noise

Audible clicking sound with each heartbeat

Bioprosthetic Valves

Material

Cow or Pig Tissue

Durability

Limited Duration - Not Lifetime Solution

Blood Thinner Medication⁷

Lifelong Use Not Required

Performance Limitations ⁷

Valve Degradation and Leakage

Noise

Silent

TRIA™ Mitral Valves

Material

Synthetic Polymer

Durability

Designed for Lifelong Durability

Blood Thinner Medication⁷

Potential to Avoid Lifelong Use

Performance Limitations ⁴

Early Evidence Indicates Stable Valve Performance

Noise

Silent

Expanded Access

For a Broad Range of Patients

We are dedicated to expanding the reach of life-saving heart valve solutions, opening pathways for patients who may have had limited treatment options. Our commitment focuses on improving long-term patient outcomes, minimizing the need for repeat interventions, and providing a cost-effective, sustainable solution for patients and healthcare systems worldwide.

Designed for Diverse Patient Needs

TRIA™ Mitral Valves are crafted to serve a broad spectrum of patients, from younger individuals to those with specific health conditions like RHD, increasing access to high-quality care across various demographics.

Economically Feasible Solutions

By developing affordable, advanced heart valves that may reduce reoperations, Foldax^® empowers hospitals to reduce procedural costs and improve financial efficiency, all while providing patients with cutting-edge treatment options.