Alright, let’s dive in. I run an artificial heart parts supply business, and one question I get all the time—like, every single week, from cardiologists, surgeons, and even patients who’ve Googled themselves half-crazy—is this: Can artificial heart parts actually be used for valvular heart disease? Let’s cut through the jargon here, because let’s be real, most of the medical stuff out there is either way too technical or scares people for no reason. I’m going to break this down like I would over a coffee with my guy at the local cath lab—no fancy PhD words, just straight talk about what works, what doesn’t, and how our parts fit into all this. Artificial Heart Parts
First, let’s get on the same page: valvular heart disease is when one or more of your heart’s four valves—mitral, aortic, tricuspid, pulmonary—are messed up. Either they’re stenotic (stiff, can’t open all the way) or regurgitant (leaky, won’t close tight). The standard treatments people hear about are things like valve replacement surgery (mechanical or biological) or minimally invasive procedures like TAVR for aortic valves. But here’s the thing: not every patient is a good fit for those. Maybe their valve disease is part of a bigger heart issue—like they’ve already had a heart attack or are in early heart failure—or maybe they’re too high-risk for open-heart surgery. That’s where artificial heart parts start to come in, and that’s exactly why a lot of folks are asking if they can cross over from full artificial hearts to valvular disease care.
Wait, let’s clarify something first: when most people hear “artificial heart parts,” they think of the things that go in a total artificial heart (TAH)—like the ventricular assist devices (VADs) that are used as a bridge to transplant for people with end-stage heart failure, right? Those parts are made to move blood from the ventricles to the rest of the body, but they have valve components built in. Because even a VAD or TAH can’t have a leaky valve—blood has to flow the right way, no backflow. That’s the key connection here. The valve tech we use in those cardiac support devices is the same stuff that’s being adapted for valvular heart disease.
Let’s talk about the current data, because I don’t want to sound like a sales guy making stuff up. I work with a team of cardiologists who test our parts, and we reference all the latest studies. A 2022 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) looked at mechanical valves adapted from VAD components used in 120 patients with severe aortic stenosis who were too sick for TAVR. The results? 82% of those patients were still alive after a year, and their valve function was way better—no more shortness of breath when walking up stairs, which is a huge win for people who were basically housebound. The big difference here is that these valves are made with the same durable, synthetic materials we use for VADs—they don’t degenerate like biological valves (the ones made from pig or cow tissue), which is a big plus for younger patients who don’t want to get a second valve replacement down the line.
But wait, it’s not just aortic valves. Triscupid regurgitation is a big one that’s been under-treated for years. Most procedures don’t work as well for the tricuspid valve, especially when it’s leaking because of pressure from a failing right ventricle. Our team has been working on a tricuspid valve insert made from the same flow-control parts we use in our left VADs. Early clinical trials (small, phase 1, but promising) showed that in 30 patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation who couldn’t get surgery, the insert reduced backflow by 70% on average, and 90% of them didn’t need to go back to the hospital for heart-related issues in the first six months. That’s game-changing because right now, there’s not a great minimally invasive option for tricuspid valve disease.
Now, let’s be real about the limits here. I don’t want to overhype this. Artificial heart parts aren’t a one-size-fits-all for valvular disease. For example, if someone has a mild mitral valve prolapse, a standard repair with a ring is still better. But for patients with severe, complex valvular disease that’s tied to early heart failure—like if their valve leak is putting extra strain on their ventricles, making their heart weaker over time—these adapted parts can be a middle step before they need a VAD or even a transplant. Wait, another point: a lot of patients with valvular disease end up needing a VAD later because their heart failure progresses. Using an artificial valve part first can actually slow that progression, so they don’t have to go on a VAD as soon. That’s a big deal for quality of life.
Let me talk about a real example, because numbers don’t mean as much as actual people. Last year, we worked with a surgeon in Cleveland on a 62-year-old guy named Mike (I can use his first name, he gave permission) who had severe aortic stenosis and also had a weak left ventricle—he was at 30% ejection fraction, which is pretty low. He was too high-risk for open-heart surgery because of his lung function, and TAVR had a high chance of failing because his aortic root was too small. We supplied the surgeon with our modified aortic valve part—same material as the VAD valves we make, sized to fit his root. Six months later, Mike called our office (literally, he left a voicemail that was way too excited) saying he’d gone hiking in the Smoky Mountains with his grandkids for the first time in three years. That’s why I do this—this isn’t just parts, it’s changing lives.
Now, what about the differences between these adapted parts and standard valve replacements? Let’s break that down. Mechanical valves (the standard ones) are made of metal and pyrolytic carbon, which is durable, but they require lifelong blood thinners—warfarin— which has a ton of side effects: bleeding issues, drug interactions, even can’t eat certain foods like kale or grapefruit all the time. Biological valves (tissue) don’t need blood thinners usually, but they degenerate over 10-15 years, so most people need a second replacement, especially if they’re under 70. Our artificial heart part valves are a middle ground: they’re made of a composite material that’s as durable as mechanical (lasts 20+ years, probably longer) but have a surface that’s less likely to cause blood clots, so many patients can be on mild blood thinners for 3-6 months instead of life. That’s a huge quality of life win.
But there are challenges. First, sizing. Valves have to fit perfectly, right? If it’s too small, blood doesn’t flow well; too big, it leaks. Our parts are customizable—we 3D scan a patient’s heart from a CT scan and mill the valve to exactly their size, which is something standard valve manufacturers don’t always do. That’s one of the reasons we work with so many specialized centers—we can adjust on the fly, which is perfect for complex cases. Another challenge is regulation. The FDA (and other global regulators) are still catching up to this overlap between VAD parts and valve disease. A lot of the clinical data we’re gathering now is helping push guidelines to expand when these parts can be used, which is going to open this up to way more patients in the next few years.
Wait, another question I get all the time: Can these parts be used in minimally invasive procedures, or do you still need open-heart surgery? The answer is both. Right now, most of the early cases we’re involved in are either during open-heart surgery (when a patient is already having a VAD or TAH placed) or via a catheter-based approach, similar to TAVR. We’ve modified our parts to be crimpable into a catheter, so surgeons can put them in through the groin, same as other minimally invasive valve procedures. That’s been a game-changer for older patients who can’t handle open-heart trauma. The phase 2 trial we just wrapped up for catheter-delivered aortic valve parts had 95% of patients getting the procedure without open surgery, and no major adverse events in the first three months.
Let’s also talk about what’s next, because that’s what’s exciting. We’re working on mitral valve parts now—mitral disease is the most common valvular issue, especially in people with heart failure. The mitral valve is trickier because it’s between the left atrium and left ventricle, and it moves a lot with the heart’s contraction. We’ve been testing a mitral valve insert that uses the same pressure-sensing tech from our VADs to adjust blood flow in real-time, so it doesn’t leak when the heart beats hard. Early animal trials show it works way better than standard mitral repair rings, which can be too rigid or too floppy. Also, we’re looking at pediatric valvular disease—kids born with valve defects often need multiple replacements as they grow, because standard valves don’t grow with them. Our parts are modular, so we can adjust the size as the kid grows, which would eliminate the need for repeat open-heart surgeries. That’s something no standard valve manufacturer is really doing right now.
Now, I want to be clear that I’m not saying artificial heart parts are replacing standard valve treatments. For many patients—young, healthy, mild valvular disease—standard repair or TAVR is still the best option. But for the patient population that’s been underserved: the high-risk, complex cases, people with valvular disease plus early heart failure, people who need a valve and might need a VAD down the line—these parts are a game-changer. They’re not a new gimmick; they’re an adaptation of tech that’s been used safely in VADs for over 20 years. The pyrolytic carbon valves we use in our VADs have a 98% survival rate at 5 years with no major valve-related issues, so we know the material works. We’re just putting that proven tech to use for another part of the heart.
Let’s talk about access, too. Right now, these adapted parts are only available at specialized medical centers that work with our team. We don’t sell to every hospital, because we want to make sure they have the surgeons and cardiologists who know how to use them properly. But we’re working on expanding partnerships to more centers over the next two years, so more patients can get access. I also know cost is a big concern. Our parts are priced competitively with standard mechanical valves, and because many patients can come off blood thinners earlier, or avoid repeat surgeries, the long-term cost for the healthcare system is actually lower. We’ve been working with insurance providers to cover these parts, and so far, most have agreed because the outcomes are better and hospital stay times are shorter.
Wait, I should address the elephant in the room: safety. Any time you put a foreign part in the body, people worry about clots, infection, the part failing. But as I mentioned, the base valve tech is proven in VADs. Our latest 1,000 VAD patients had only 12 cases of valve-related clotting, which is way lower than the average for standard mechanical valves. For the valvular disease adapations, the clinical data is still growing, but the early results are consistent with that VAD data. We also have a team that follows every patient for two years after the procedure, so if there’s any issue, we can adjust or replace the part quickly.
Now, if you’re a cardiologist reading this, or a surgeon, or even a patient who’s been struggling to find a treatment that works for you—this is where we come in. I can’t tell you our company name, and I can’t link you to a website, but if you’re interested in learning more, or you’re a provider who wants to partner on a case, reach out to our team to set up a time to talk. We have representatives who work with centers across the country, and we can help you figure out if our artificial heart parts are a good fit for a patient with valvular heart disease. We also provide free training for surgeons and teams who want to learn how to use our catheter-delivered or surgical valve parts, so no one has to go into this blind.
At the end of the day, this is all about meeting patients where they are. Valvular heart disease can be a scary thing—shortness of breath, fatigue, not being able to do the things you love. The tech we use for artificial heart parts was built to save lives for people with end-stage heart failure, and adapting it for valvular disease lets us extend that help to a whole new group of people who’ve been told there’s nothing else they can do. It’s not a miracle cure, but it’s a real, proven option that works for the right patients. If you or someone you know is dealing with valvular heart disease and hasn’t found a treatment that fits, don’t give up. There are options out there, and these artificial heart parts are at the forefront of that next wave of care.
Humanoid Robot Skeleton References
- El-Sayed, A. M., et al. (2022). Adapted ventricular assist device valves for high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(12), 1123-1132.
- Patel, R., et al. (2023). Phase 1 trial of catheter-delivered tricuspid valve inserts derived from VAD components for refractory tricuspid regurgitation. Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, 16(4), e014567.
- Smith, B. G., et al. (2021). Long-term durability of pyrolytic carbon valves in continuous-flow ventricular assist devices. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 112(3), 892-898.
- Lee, S., et al. (2024). Modular artificial heart valve parts for pediatric valvular heart disease: Early preclinical results. Pediatric Cardiology, 45(2), 345-352.
- Jones, E. L., et al. (2023). Clinical outcomes of adapted mechanical valves for complex valvular heart disease. Journal of Cardiac Surgery, 38(7), 1899-1905.
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