Recent Advances and Patents on Novel Devices for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Functional Mitral Regurgitation

There are a variety of novel patented devices available to treat functional mitral regurgitation. Aside from direct valve replacement or repair, devices that can be implanted through a minimally invasive approach tend to amend this disease via one of three techniques: edge-to-edge repair, annuloplasty, or left ventricular reshaping. Recent attention has been allocated towards development of prospective devices to enable percutaneous mitral valve replacement. Clinical implementation of these devices is contingent upon evidence to suggest that they meet safety and efficacy requirements. This review provides a brief description of patents relevant to some commercial devices that are currently undergoing clinical trials and other devices that are still under pre-clinical testing.