Closure Device For Heart Defects To Be Developed

"We look forward to building on our exceptional relationship with Cook as we leverage our proprietary closure technology to facilitate minimally-invasive surgery in the growing field of PFO closures," said Bernard A. Hausen, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Cardica, Inc. "This agreement expands our reach into new areas of cardiovascular health while maintaining our focus on our innovative automated closure technology and has the potential to offer a new treatment alternative for patients who have experienced transient ischemic attack, stroke, paradoxical embolism or debilitating migraines."

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a congenital heart defect. During fetal development, the heart's two upper chambers are connected by a hole which allows blood to be diverted away from the lungs because they are not yet developed. This hole, called the foramen ovale, is necessary for healthy fetal development and closes naturally in approximately 80 percent of the general population by the age of two. When it remains open after this period, it is said to be patent, or open.

People with PFO often are asymptomatic, but are at greater risk for stroke and systemic embolism because of the potential formation of blood clots. With larger PFOs, patients may experience labored breathing, recurrent respiratory infections and even heart failure or death. Today, PFOs are treated by the use of a blood thinning medication (aspirin or warfarin) to prevent blood clots, or the PFO is closed through open heart surgery or transcatheter closure procedure.

source:www.emaxhealth.com