First-in-human experience with a novel transcatheter direct annuloplasty system for severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation

The transcatheter direct mitral annuloplasty system (TDMA) is the closest approach to the “gold standard” of contemporary surgical annuloplasty techniques. TDMA reduces or eliminates regurgitation by effectively decreasing the septolateral dimension and increasing leaflet coaptation.

The DragonRing system (Valgen Medtech) is a novel TDMA system that consists of an anchor delivery system, a steerable sheath and a locker delivery system delivered by a transseptal approach (Figure 1A). The implantation is performed on the atrial side of the mitral valve annulus (MVA). The device system is composed of fully repositionable and retrievable anchors without polyester sleeves, a polymer-coated spacer, a radio-detectable contraction wire, and a locker (Figure 1B-Figure 1D). The device is easy to guide, and the guide sheaths and bending sheaths have a bending angle range of 0-270°. The indicator port and the scale can clearly show the real-time bending degree of the intracardiac device. The anchor, with a width of 2-3 mm, is designed to be further away from the coronary artery and coronary sinus, and the drill, with a length of 3-6 mm, is sufficient...