Gore has acquired Pipeline Medical Technologies—a privately held medical technology company focused on advancing chordal repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation via a transcatheter procedure. The Pipeline repair device is designed to replicate the outcomes of a highly effective surgical procedure via a catheter, avoiding the trauma and many of the risks associated with open heart surgery.
The company will retain the Pipeline name and operate independently of Gore as a wholly owned subsidiary. Pipeline’s device is currently in development and not available for commercial use. Paul Sorajja (Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease, Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minneapolis, USA), comments: “An entirely catheter-based, transfemoral and transseptal chordal repair will be an important tool for minimally invasive treatment of mitral regurgitation.”
Pipeline founder Steven Bolling (a cardiothoracic surgeon), says: “We see an array of synergies working with Gore. The company is well recognised for its advanced material capabilities. Its long history of designing solutions for degenerative mitral regurgitation treatment challenges already includes the GORE-TEX Suture for Chordae Tendineae, used in surgical chordal repairs, and we are excited to collaborate on future innovations in transcatheter mitral chordal repair. Together we aspire to significantly advance DMR patient outcomes and improve recovery speed.”
David Abeyta, leader of Gore Medical Products Division, notes: “The addition of Pipeline’s investigational technology and talented associates bolsters our continued ambition to improve patients’ lives by offering physicians innovative treatment solutions across the cardiac space. Pipeline’s cutting-edge repair procedure, for patients with mitral valve disease, has the potential to expand Gore’s growing portfolio of treatments for structural heart disease, and it echoes our commitment to innovation across cardiac therapies.”
