Abbott’s Road to AI-Guided Procedures Starts with TAVI

Abbott said it is building the foundation for artificial intelligence-guided procedures with its new transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) balloon-expandable system.

This effort could help the company, which is a finalist for Medtech Company of the Year, stand out as the TAVR market is showing signs of slowing down or decelerating.

The Abbott Park, IL-based company said the first procedures were performed with the software-guided system to treat symptomatic severe aortic stenosis.

The investigational system is a type of balloon-expandable TAVI device, which works by crimping the new heart valve on a deflated balloon. The balloon with the mounted valve is then inserted into the body through an artery in the groin and routed up to the heart. Once properly positioned inside the narrowed heart valve, the balloon is inflated to expand the new valve, taking over the function of the patient's narrow native heart valve. The balloon is then deflated and removed from the body.

"Transcatheter aortic valve implantation treatment has benefitted both physicians and patients over the years, but physicians have come to understand one device does not fit all their patients with aortic stenosis," said Azeem Latib, MD, section head and director of interventional cardiology and director of structural heart interventions at Montefiore Health System, who conducted the first procedures with the device alongside cardiac surgeon, Vinayak Bapat, MD, chair of cardiothoracic surgery at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. "We, and hospitals worldwide, remain focused on helping this growing patient population by investigating and providing expanded treatment options that adapt to the unique needs and anatomies of patients."

Related:Capstan Medical Raises $110M for Robotic-Enabled Heart Valve Solution