Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
An Ex Vivo Porcine Model for Hydrodynamic Testing of Experimental Aortic Valve Procedures and Novel Medical Devices
Published on: August 25, 2023
Medtentia double helix mitral annuloplasty system evaluated in a porcine experimental model
Henrik Jensen1, Jarmo Simpanen, Morten Smerup
1From the *Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery T and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital-Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark; and †Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Objective:
: To further develop and improve minimally invasive surgical procedures, dedicated appropriate surgical devices are mandatory. In this study, the safety and feasibility of implanting the novel Medtentia double helix mitral annuloplasty ring, which uses the key-ring principle to potentially allow faster and sutureless implantation, was assessed using both minimally invasive and conventional surgical techniques. Because of ethical concerns, a human compatible porcine experimental model of mitral valve surgery was used.
Methods:
: Twelve 50-kg pigs were allocated to implantation of the Medtentia double helix annuloplasty ring using conventional midline sternotomy including cardioplegic arrest or a minimally invasive approach using peripheral cannulation and left ventricular fibrillation. Ten weeks after surgery, echocardiography was performed to assess mitral valve function. Animals were then killed, and gross mitral valve anatomy was examined ex vivo.
Results:
: All animals survived 10 weeks without developing mitral regurgitation, structural leaflet damage, ring dehiscence, or endocarditis. In the minimally invasive compared with the midline sternotomy group (mean ± SD), significantly reduced recovery time (80 ± 16 vs. 327 ± 23 minutes, P < 0.01) and a tendency toward increased operating time (199 ± 33 vs. 168 ± 15 minutes, P > 0.05) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (98 ± 12 vs. 91 ± 11 minutes, P > 0.05) were observed.
Conclusions:
: By using a both minimally invasive and conventional midline sternotomy implantation techniques, the Medtentia double helix annuloplasty ring showed no mitral valve dysfunction or tissue damage 10 weeks postoperatively.
