Replacing heart valves without surgery
First of two columns about heart valves. This week: CoreValve Inc. Next week: Edwards Lifesciences.
Next year’s computers will be faster and cheaper than this year’s.
Next year’s TV screens will be bigger and cheaper than this year’s.
And here’s a new example of predictable and rapid high-tech progress to consider: Within a few years, failing heart valves will be replaced without major surgery – and more cheaply than ever before.
Two Irvine companies are leading the way.
Tiny CoreValve Inc., with 30 employees, and Edwards Lifesciences, with 5,300; are conducting clinical trials on artificial heart valves that are implanted with a catheter.
