A Medical Device Daily

St. Jude Medical (St. Paul, Minnesota) reported the publication of a study on the St. Jude Medical Biocor Stented Tissue Valve – the second study published in recent months to report 20-year data showing excellent long-term durability of the Biocor tissue valve.

Published in the January 2009 issue of the Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, this prospective study compiles data from 1,712 patients, and is one of the largest published studies of tissue valves.

The results of this study confirm findings previously published at 10-, 15- and 17-year follow-up intervals for the same group of patients. These studies demonstrate the valve's performance on a key measure of durability: freedom from reoperation due to structural valve deterioration (the rate at which patients remain free from the need for another operation resulting from degeneration that negatively affects the valve's functionality).

"The publication of two independent 20-year studies in close succession provides compelling confirmation of the Biocor tissue valve's long-term durability," said Frank Callaghan, president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular Division. "These results reinforce St. Jude Medical's leadership position as a provider of durable, long-lasting, high-quality tissue heart valves that meet the needs of physicians and their patients. We are committed to advancing technologies that provide clinically important options to the surgeon-putting more control in their hands, and helping to mitigate risk and improve outcomes."