10 Hot Devices We Can't Get in the U.S.—NeoChord DS1000

NeoChord has developed the DS1000 for minimally-invasive mitral valve repair in patients suffering from severe mitral valve regurgitation.

Transapical transcatheter mitral valve repair with the DS1000 reduces the necessary incision from 3–10 inches to 2–3 inches and allows the procedure to be done off pump, according to information on the NeoChord Web site. This means the patient's heart continues beating during the procedure, as opposed to being stopped and put on cardio-pulmonary bypass.

The DS1000 received CE Mark in December 2012 but does not have FDA approval.