• Trans-catheter
• Chordae Tendineae
• Mitral Valve

The heart diseases are the leading cause of death in industrialized countries. Currently, traditional surgeries are still the most widely used techniques. Nevertheless, innovative methods such as the trans-apical and the trans-catheter are gaining momentum due to a less invasive procedure and a shorter recovery time for the patient. This work is focused on problems of regurgitation and prolapse of the mitral valve, which are common consequences of rupture of the chordae tendineae. The study aims to design a new model of a device, able to operate in a trans-catheter scenery. The proposed design is able to connect the ePTFE thread, specifically used to construct artificial chords, at both the lower and the upper side of the mitral valve. It follows the possibility to control the length of the chord implanted. The device has been manufactured in polymeric resin and metal, two times bigger than the nominal size due to dimension limitations related to the 3D printer. The device has been also tested in bovine hearts and in artificial tissue. Tests were focusing on the evaluation of the device behavior based on: the duration of the procedure, the length of the implanted chords, and the maximum load before the implant failure. The results demonstrate the good quality of the design nonetheless, the device can still be refined in its geometry, to improve the connection at the leaflet, as well as its functionality, in order to guarantee a better control of the implanted chords length.