Page 111 - Technology and Innovation Journal - 19-1

INNOVATION

HYBRID HEART VALVE TECHNOLOGY (HValve)

S. Hamed Alavi and Arash Kheradvar
Kheradvar Research Group (KLAB)
University of California Irvine, Irvine CA

HValve is the first patient-specific hybrid tissue-engineered heart valve prosthesis with self-
regenerative capacity, lifelong durability, and enhanced biocompatibility. A new technology is
being developed that combines both mechanical and native valves’ characteristics by mimicking
a native valve’s biocompatibility and hemodynamics, yet with a mechanical valve’s long-term
durability. The hybrid valve’s leaflets are composed of an extra-thin superelastic Nitinol (or poly-
meric) mesh, which is tightly enclosed by multiple layers of smooth muscle, fibroblast/myofibro-
blast, and endothelial cells of the patient who will receive the valve. Since HValve’s technology
can be incorporated into both surgical and transcatheter valves, it has a potential competitive
cost structure to capture a significant portion of the ~$3 billion current annual worldwide heart
valve replacement market. HValve is protected by two issued and multiple pending U.S. and
international patents.

More information can be found at:

kheradvar.eng.uci.edu/research.php?cat=hybridvalve

Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 449-450, 2017 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.1.2017.349
Copyright © 2017 National Academy of Inventors. 449 www.technologyandinnovation.org