The FDA and Medicare apparently decided to slow the adoption of a pioneering replacement heart valve , fearing too many seniors on Medicare would seek out the procedure , according to this WSJ report . The innovative medical device serves as an artificial replacement for the body 's own aortic valve that is situated between the left ventricle and aorta within the human heart . This valve controls the flow of blood away from the heart ; however , it starts to narrow as part of the ageing process , reducing the flow and thus leading to heart failure , and it some cases , death . Although open - heart surgery is typically the only other treatment option - an operation not without it 's risks and associated costs , bureaucrats apparently eschewed this inventive device . which enables a damaged valve to be repaired by allowing this replacement valve to be implanted within the heart via a catheter within a main artery in the leg , a less risky option for elderly patients , in favour of the surgery .
The FDA and Medicare apparently contrived to slow the adoption of a pioneering replacement heart valve, fearing too many seniors on Medicare would seek out the procedure, according to this WSJ report. The innovative medical device acts as an artificial replacement for the body's own aortic valve that is situated between the left ventricle and aorta within the human heart. This valve controls the flow of blood away from the heart; however, it starts to narrow as part of the ageing process, reducing the flow and thus leading to heart failure, and it some cases, death. Although open-heart surgery is typically the only other treatment option - an operation not without it's risks and associated costs, bureaucrats apparently eschewed this inventive device. which enables a damaged heart to be repaired by allowing this replacement valve to be implanted within the heart via a catheter within a main artery in the leg, a less risky option for elderly patients, in favour of the surgery.