Shanghai, China, 5 November 2021 — MicroPort CardioFlow Medtech Corporation (CardioFlow Medtech) hosted a symposium for its next-generation transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) product, the VitaFlow Liberty™ Transcatheter Aortic Valve and Retrievable Delivery System (VitaFlow Liberty™), during the 32nd Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC) and Asia Heart Society Congress. The event brought together experts in the field of structural heart disease to share their experience on the clinical application of VitaFlow Liberty™.

In his opening speech, co-chair of the session, Prof. Yongjian Wu, from Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, noted, "The official launch of VitaFlow Liberty™ allows clinicians to have a new treatment option that ensures procedural safety and effectiveness. I hope more doctors can use this valve system, accumulate more experience from using the system, and share their insights to support the continuous development of TAVI.”

As the first speaker, Prof. Yuan Feng, from West China Hospital of Sichuan University, gave a detailed presentation on the clinical advantages and his experience of the new generation VitaFlow Liberty™ valve system, explaining in detail the unique design and his implantation strategy. He commented that VitaFlow® features a hybrid-density stent and a tubular valve. Its low-density cells provide surgeons with better arch-crossing performance and its large cells allow room for post-operative coronary reimplantation. The tubular design reduces the residual pressure difference, ensuring stable release while preventing slip. However, as the valve is mainly supported below the suture points, it requires releasing at a higher position, which increases the requirements for precision release.

Prof. Yuan Feng commented, “With precision implantation at an upper position, the VitaFlow^® valve can achieve a high degree of performance and produce an immediate effect. While the VitaFlow^® valve requires an excellent delivery system with high positioning and stable release, the VitaFlow Liberty™ motorized retrievable system is ideal in meeting these requirements.”

Subsequently, Prof. Xinyong Cai elaborated on single-surgeon TAVI techniques, noting that it depends on individual surgeon's habits. Based on his experience, he recommended securing the valve with the left hand and releasing it with the right hand. He stressed, “When performing single-surgeon TAVI, we can decide when to release the valve by feeling the force and resistance with our hands. The VitaFlow Liberty™ system is the only TAVI system that supports single-surgeon operation thanks to its motorized design. Therefore, it is worth promoting in the clinic practices.”

TAVI technology is developing rapidly in China, but challenges exist, including thatonly a few cases of TAVR have been completed by medical centers, few centers are capable of conducting independent TAVR, and Chinese patients have different clinical characteristics from foreign patients. In addition, some conditions, such as paravalvular leak and coronary artery obstruction, are common high-risk complications of TAVR. The new-generation VitaFlow Liberty™ valve system features an anti-paravalvular leak technology and a retrievable system that could significantly reduce the incidence of such dangerous events. However, it is still necessary to fully evaluate the surgical risk of the patient before the procedure. Meanwhile, surgeons must develop comprehensive cardiovascular interventional skills to prevent and manage all possible complications to ensure a smooth and successful procedure.

The official launch of VitaFlow Liberty™ not only heralds the arrival of the era of motorized retrievable transcatheters, but also provides a safer and freer choice for surgeons. In the future, CardioFlow Medtech will continue to share clinical experience and promote academic exchange in the field of structural heart disease, to help more surgeons shorten their learning curve and achieve satisfactory postoperative results, and to provide more total solutions that will help extend and reshape patients' lives.