1. Joe Tartakoff RIT Mechanical Engineering

2. Paravalvular Leakage in TAVI Problem: Severity of valve calcification linked to degree of paravalvular aortic regurgitation Needs: Better adhesion for valve stenting to calcified leaflets Better devices/techniques to reduce the need for balloon redilation or second valve implantation 45,000 TAVI procedures done worldwide since start, of which 12-20% develop postprocedural PVL (severe aortic regurgitation is rare)

3. Endoleaks after TEVAR Procedure Problem: Endoleaks develop in 29% of all TEVAR procedures, leading to increased risk of postprocedural aneurysm rupture Needs: Develop better aortic fixation (Type I endoleaks – 40%) Develop better monitoring of aneurysm sac (Type II endoleaks – 35%) Develop better connections between graft components (Type III endoleaks – 20%) 200,000 AAA per year 30,000 TAA per year

4. IVC Filter Removal Problem: Successful removal of IVC filters are rare (3.7% of retrievable IVC filters are actually removed) Needs: Develop technique/device to make removal of IVC filters easier for the surgeon (better proximal-distal control) Develop a new IVC filter that can be removed easily About 200,000 IVC filters implanted per year in US (use of IVC filters has increased over the last 3 years)

5. Ablation in Maze Procedure Problem: MAZE procedures can be time consuming due to non-transmural ablation and variations in the heart’s nervous structure Needs: Improve the delivery and outcome of ablations Develop techniques to design individualized maze pathways Atrial fibrillation affects roughly 2.5 million people in US

6. VAD Power Line Problem: Transcutaneous power cable responsible for most problems with VADs (infection, cable fraying, limiting device lifetime) Needs: Stronger and more flexible cable (higher fatigue life) Reduce infection at the transcutaneous interface (tissue integration) Roughly 250,000 implanted each year (only 2,000 transplants) Existing Technology: Wireless electromagnetic induction (slow recharge time) Spiral power cable (Jarvic 2000 – still have infection)

7. Questions/Comments Association of aortic valve calcification severity with the degree of aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation. International Journal of Cardiology. 150 (2011) pg. 142-145. Endoleaks after endovascular repair of thoracic aneurysms. Journal of Vascular Surgery. September 2006 pg. 447- 452. Retrievable Inferior Vena Cava Filters are Rarely Removed. The American Surgeon. May 2009. Volume 75, Issue 5 pg. 426. The Maze Porcedure: A surgical intervention for ablation of atrial fibrillation. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care. Volume 37, Issue 6 pg. 432-439.