Interactive translational research model and cadaveric simulation: where minimally invasive cardiac surgery and industry meet.

Focused research targeting an identified clinical problem may result in more rapid development of medical devices, technologies, and surgical techniques that directly impact patient care. These medical advances to improve patient care may be expedited by adopting an interactive translational research model in which inventors, designers, and engineers work in collaboration with surgeons. In addition, cadaveric simulation is a high-fidelity model that is bridging the translational and logistical gap to bring new surgical devices, technologies, and techniques to patients.

An Automated Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Suturing and Coaxial Fastener System for Mitral Chordae Replacement: Strength, Feasibility, and Healing.

Objective: Mitral valve (MV) chordae replacements can be technically challenging. Technology that remotely delivers and accurately secures artificial chordae may reduce the learning curve and improve the reliability of MV repairs.

Methods: The technology involved two devices: a remote suturing device for delivery of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suture to the papillary muscle and a Coaxial titanium suture fastener (TF) device with integrated saline infusion for real-time determination of chordae length during fixation.

Prosthetic Aortic Valve Fixation Study: 48 Replacement Valves Analyzed Using Digital Pressure Mapping.

Objective: Prostheses attachment is critical in aortic valve replacement surgery, yet reliable prosthetic security remains a challenge. Accurate techniques to analyze prosthetic fixation pressures may enable the use of fewer sutures while reducing the risk of paravalvular leaks (PVL).

Methods: Customized digital thin film pressure transducers were sutured between aortic annulus models and 21-mm bioprosthetic valves with 15 × 4-mm, 12 × 4-mm, or 9 × 6-mm-wide pledgeted mattress sutures.

Comparison of strength, consistency, and speed of COR-KNOT versus manually hand-tied knots in an ex vivo minimally invasive model.

Objective: This study compared the strength, consistency, and speed of prosthetic attachment sutures secured with automated fasteners with those of manual knots using an ex vivo porcine mitral valve annuloplasty model. A novel miniature pressure transducer system was developed to quantify pressures between sutured prosthetic rings and underlying cardiac tissue.

Methods: Sixteen mitral annuloplasty rings were sewn into ex vivo pig hearts.