A tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is proposed. The tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is used to verify whether the right ventricular dysfunction may occur when treating the tricuspid regurgitation by surgeries or other permanent treatments. A test insertion of the tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery is made to pass obliquely through the tricuspid valve of a patient, and after a certain time has elapsed, the tool is removed. The tricuspid regurgitation treatment tool to be inserted into the pulmonary artery includes: a blocking part blocking the tricuspid valve; and an insertion tube provided with a guidewire-guiding lumen formed therein to be movable along the guidewire.

Method and devices for viewing one or more valve leaflets via a viewer. In some embodiments the viewer includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end being closed and having a transparent viewing window, the second end arranged to be attached to an aorta or a pulmonary artery, and one or more ports arranged to provide fluid access to an internal portion of the viewer to pressurize the one or more leaflets. A diameter of the viewing window is larger than an outer diameter of the second end. An outer diameter of the first end of the body is larger than an outer diameter of the second end. The body is a tubular body.

Thin, biocompatible, high-strength, composite materials are disclosed that are suitable for use in a prosthetic valve for regulating blood flow direction. In one aspect, the leaflet material maintains flexibility in high-cycle flexural applications, making it particularly applicable to high-flex implants such as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet. The leaflet material includes a coherent single layer and an elastomer, wherein the elastomer is present in the pores of the porous coherent single layer.

Systems, dies, and methods are provided for processing pericardial tissue. The method includes positioning a die-cut assembly over the pericardial tissue, the die-cut assembly including a die having a plate, a die pattern, and an opening, the die pattern attached to the plate, the opening formed in the plate to provide access to the pericardial tissue, and measuring a thickness of the tissue through the opening. The die-cut assembly may be mounted for automated vertical movement, and a platen on which the tissue is placed is capable of automated horizontal movement. Different target areas on the tissue can be assessed by measuring the thickness through the die, and when an area is deemed suitable the die pattern cuts a shape therefrom. The system is useful for cutting uniform thickness heart valve leaflets, and can be automated to speed up the process.

A method for grouping prosthetic valve leaflets of an aggregate of prosthetic valve leaflets is provided. Using a computer processor, for each leaflet of the aggregate, in response to an image parameter of the leaflet, a leaflet-flexibility value is derived. A group size value is provided to the processor. Using the processor, at least some of the leaflets of the aggregate are designated into leaflet groups, based on similarity between the respective leaflet-flexibility value of each leaflet of the aggregate. Each of the leaflet groups includes a number of leaflets equal to the group size value. Using the processor, an indication of the designated leaflet groups is outputted. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of using a computer processor for grouping prosthetic valve leaflets of an aggregate of prosthetic valve leaflets is provided. For each leaflet of the aggregate, in response to an image parameter of the leaflet, a leaflet-flexibility value is derived. At least some of the leaflets of the aggregate are designated into leaflet groups, based on similarity between the respective leaflet-flexibility value of each leaflet of the aggregate. For each of the designated leaflet groups, the flexibility value of each leaflet in the designated leaflet group is within the intra-group tolerance with respect to the leaflet-flexibility value of each other leaflet in the designated leaflet group. An indication of the designated leaflet groups is outputted. Other embodiments are also described.

A modular medical testing device at least two driving motor modules, wherein the motors are separately controlled.

Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided.

Devices and methods are provided for pressurization of an aortic valve of a heart before and/or after a valve surgery procedure to mimic the physiologic environment that the aortic valve experiences while allowing surgeons to visually inspect the aortic valve, so that if additional repair needs to be performed, it can be done immediately before aortotomy closure.

Apparatus (20) for testing a prosthetic leaflet (10) includes a bar (22); a light source (24); a detector (26); an actuator (40); a gauge (28); a display (82); and circuitry (84). The leaflet is draped over the bar. The light source emits a beam of light (32). The detector detects the beam, and generates a detection-signal indicative of detection of the beam. Actuation of the actuator moves the bar with respect to the beam. The gauge measures an elevation of the bar above the beam, the elevation changing with the moving of the bar by the actuator. The circuitry is configured: (i) to receive the measured elevation from the gauge, (ii) to receive the detection-signal from the detector, and (iii) in response to the detection-signal, to drive the display to display the elevation that was measured when the detection-signal was received by the circuitry.