Change of Heart

Reshaping helps restore lost function

Photo: Courtesy Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

A tiny titanium-and-silicone rubber ring co-invented by U-M cardiac surgeon Steven Bolling (M.D. 1979) helps patients with congestive heart failure regain lost heart function by changing the shape of the heart’s main pumping chamber. This makes it possible to restore some of the heart’s normal pumping ability, allowing many patients to live longer with fewer disabling symptoms.

Nearly 600,000 Americans are diagnosed with heart failure every year. About half of them also develop a leaky mitral valve as their heart enlarges and changes shape. The U-M device was designed to alter the shape of the left ventricle and allow the mitral valve to close properly.

Bolling developed the heart-valve ring with Ottavio Alfieri, a cardiac surgeon from Italy. Called GeoForm, the device is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in mitral valve repair, and is marketed by Edwards Lifesciences Corp.

—KEG

For an expanded version of the story:
www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2005/hmgeoform.htm

For patient information on congestive heart failure:
www.med.umich.edu/cvc/lead/heartfailure.htm