September 6, 2018 – W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. (Gore) announced the acquisition of Pipeline Medical Technologies Inc., a privately held medical technology company focused on advancing chordal repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) via a transcatheter procedure.
The Pipeline 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. “An entirely catheter-based, transfemoral and transseptal chordal repair will be an important tool for minimally invasive treatment of mitral regurgitation,” commented Paul Sorajja, M.D., director, Center for Valve and Structural Heart Disease, Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
“We see an array of synergies working with Gore. The company is well recognized for its advanced material capabilities. Its long history of designing solutions for DMR 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,” said Pipeline founder Steven Bolling, M.D., a leading mitral valve surgeon. “Together we aspire to significantly advance DMR patient outcomes and improve recovery speed.”
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.
For more information: www.gore.com