Transcatheter Technologies Successfully Performs in Vivo Implantation of the Trinity Transapical Aortic Valve System

REGENSBURG, Germany, September 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ --

- Transapical Implantation of a Percutaneous Aortic Tissue Valve Validates Trinity's Technology

Transcatheter Technologies GmbH (TT), an innovative medical device company that is developing a second-generation transcatheter aortic valve prosthesis, announced today that its proprietary transapical aortic valve has been successfully implanted in the acute porcine model.

    The acute in vivo study of the Trinity system has shown:

    1) Accurate stepwise positioning of Trinity via an antegrade transapical
       approach.

    2) Full expansion and anchoring of the Trinity valve prosthesis before
       the refolding of the stent.

    3) Complete evaluation of the fully expanded prosthesis' function before
       refolding and repositioning or retrieval.

    4) Detachment of the stent from the catheter without changing the
       geometry of the deployed valve prosthesis.

    5) Outstanding anchoring and sealing due to the unique design of the
       stent.

    6) Low transvalvular gradients.

TT's unique true repositioning system allows for complete expansion of the valved stent and full evaluation of prosthesis' function before repositioning, before retrieval, and before final release.

"Our aim is to remove the risks and anxiety associated with current transcatheter valve implantation procedures. Trinity's true repositioning technology allows the user to fully expand and anchor the valve, then evaluate hemodynamic valve function before separating from the catheter," said Hou-Sen Lim, CTO. "Our proprietary pre-mounted valve technology removes the need to mount the valve onto the catheter system in the operating room prior to the procedure, thereby reducing the cost and eliminating the risk associated with mounting the valve by an assistant at the implantation side."

"Trinity protects the fragile valve leaflets by Zero Pressure Crimping. This prevents crushing and damaging of the leaflets when the frame is folded. We expect that this will increase the lifespan of the valve prosthesis and thereby allowing for implantation in even younger patients," commented Wolfgang Goetz MD, PhD, CEO. "Our animal trials validate the feasibility of the technology in vivo. We are very proud to have achieved this significant milestone within a very short period of time."

Transcatheter Technologies successful closed the seed financing round in 2009 with High-Tech Gründerfonds and Seedfonds Bayern. The investment will be used for the development of a novel biological heart valve up to the proof of concept. "Transcatheter Technologies' valve design can solve major problems of common prosthesis. Thereby, valve implantations become an option for currently untreatable patients. We are convinced that the medicinal as well as technological expertise of the team provide an ideal base for a successful corporate development", adds Dr. Michael Nettersheim from High-Tech Gründerfonds.

About Transcatheter Technologies GmbH

Transcatheter Technologies GmbH is a privately held medical device company, founded in January 2009, and headquartered in Regensburg, Germany. The Trinity transapical aortic valve system's valve prosthesis is premounted on the catheter. Trinity's unique features enable true repositioning and Zero Pressure Crimping, which improve valve durability and broaden the scope of application of transcatheter valve implantations across a larger patient population. Trinity valve prosthesis is comprised of a bovine pericardium valve that is mounted on a self-expanding nitinol frame. Its implantation is performed transapically on a beating heart without the need for open-heart surgery.

For more information, contact Wolfgang Goetz, MD, PhD, CEO ([email protected]) or Hou-Sen Lim, MEng, CTO, ([email protected]), Transcatheter Technologies GmbH, BioPark Regensburg, Josef-Engert-Str. 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany, +49-170-6309920/21.

About High-Tech Gründerfonds

High-Tech Gründerfonds invests risk capital in young, high-potential technology companies that convert promising research results in business success. The seed finance provided aims to enable start-ups to take their R&D project through to the creation of a prototype, a proof of concept or to market launch. Investors in this public/private partnership are the German Federal Ministry for Business and Technology, the KfW Banking Group as well as the six industrial groups of BASF, Deutsche Telekom, Siemens, Robert Bosch, Daimler and Carl Zeiss. High-Tech Gründerfonds has a fund volume of about 272 million euros.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Nettersheim, Senior Investmentmanager, High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany, Phone:+49-228-96568500,Fax: +49-228-96568550, http://www.high-tech-gruenderfonds.de.

SOURCE Transcatheter Technologies GmbH