Continuing its century-long legacy of cardiac innovation, Deborah Heart and Lung Center has successfully performed the tri-state region’s first commercial implant of the Trilogy™ Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV) System by JenaValve.
The breakthrough procedure marks a major milestone for patients suffering from severe, symptomatic aortic regurgitation (AR) across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
The Trilogy™ THV System received pre-market approval from the FDA in March 2026. It stands as the first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) device specifically designed to treat aortic valve regurgitation.
Traditionally, TAVR devices rely on calcified tissue in the aorta for stability. However, in cases of AR—where the aortic valve leaflets fail to close tightly, causing blood to leak backward into the heart’s main pumping chamber—calcification is typically absent, rendering standard transcatheter devices ineffective. The JenaValve system solves this anatomical challenge using specialized locator technology that anchors securely directly to the aortic valve’s leaflets.
“Our team can now offer patients with aortic regurgitation a TAVR designed specifically for their condition,” said Dr. Muhammad Raza, medical director of the structural heart program, director of the cardiac catheterization lab, and division director of interventional cardiology at Deborah Heart and Lung Center.
“Traditional surgery for patients with severe, symptomatic aortic regurgitation is not always feasible,” Dr. Raza explained. “They may not be candidates for invasive procedures, and other transcatheter devices used in minimally invasive procedures do not address the challenges of their underlying anatomy. The Trilogy system meets these challenges with locator technology that allows us to securely anchor the system to the aortic valve’s leaflets in the absence of calcium.”
Addressing an Under-Treated Condition
Aortic regurgitation can be life-limiting if left untreated, forcing the heart to work harder as blood leaks backward. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, chest pain, and fluid retention resulting in swollen feet, ankles, and legs. Severe cases can ultimately prove fatal.
By introducing this advanced minimally invasive option, Deborah Heart and Lung Center is providing new hope for high-risk patients who previously had limited or high-risk surgical options.
“Deborah leads the way when it comes to finding new ways to help our patients,” Dr. Raza added. “Heart conditions that were once extremely debilitating can now be treated with minimally invasive procedures that allow our patients to live longer, more productive lives.”
