HeartStitch(R) Brings New Technology to Astana to Treat Structural Heart Disease

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 11, 2015) - Specialists of the National Research Cardiac Surgery Center (NRCSC) in Astana, Kazakhstan together with Dr. Michael Mullen, and with the guidance of Professor Anthony A. Nobles, performed a new, minimally invasive procedure to close the Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) of the heart using the NobleStitch EL device for cardiovascular suturing. This was successfully performed without invasive open-heart surgery. A Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a hole in the heart that ordinarily will close at birth, but more than 27% of the population this tunnel remains open. 

Three patients, ranging from 13 - 42 years of age with congenital heart disease underwent this minimally invasive intervention under visual fluoroscopic control. These cases demonstrated several of the fundamental differences between the new type of procedure using the NobleStitch EL which uses only sutures to close the heart defect, versus large medical device implants that are known for potentially life threatening complications in some patients. The percutaneous PFO tunnel is sewn "closed" using the NobleStitch EL method with a routine cardiac catheterization procedure rather than implanting a large metal disc in the heart or the much more invasive open-heart surgery procedure.

Stroke, Debilitating severe migraines often accompanied by visual aura and chronic fatigue have long been associated with PFO, which led to the National Stroke Center to work with Dr. Mullen and HeartStitch to train cardiologists at the NRCSC identifying those patients and the technique to test for the PFO. This is the first device of its kind used in Astana starting with the first patient treated last year during the Master Class which established a new awareness of the relationship between PFO stroke and other structural heart problems. 

Dr. Saule Kadirova a leading expert in structural heart interventions at NCRC was present to perform the cases on the three patients in Astana. Dr. Kadirova said, "We are gratified that our colleagues from abroad have brought this technology to Kazakhstan. We now have the ability to perform these important, minimally invasive procedures and thank Dr. Mullen and Professor Nobles, who invented this innovative solution for cardiologists. We can now treat the Kazakhstani people using this practice."

Professor Anthony Nobles commented, "Working with such talented physicians makes the training of our NobleStitch technology more effective. Working with cardiology centers like NRCSC allows us to provide safe alternatives for PFO closure. It is gratifying for me to bring our latest technological breakthrough to Kazakhstan. Clinical successes as we have had here in Astana are the driving force for our continued growth worldwide." 

About HeartStitch^®

www.HeartStitch.net

HeartStitch, Inc. was founded in Fountain Valley, California by Prof. Anthony Nobles, a successful entrepreneur who has an established track record of development, commercialization and M&A transactions in the medical device space. HeartStitch is currently focused on the development and commercialization of devices in the structural heart space.

With a focus in Structural Heart treatments, HeartStitch was founded to bring its established suture technology to the treatment of several structural heart applications including "Trans-Apical Access and Closure," "Mitral Valve Remodeling" and "Mitral Valve Annulplasty."

The NobleStitch is approved for PFO Closure and Cardiovascular suturing in the European Union. The NobleStitch EL is FDA cleared for vascular suturing in the United States. The HeartStitch TA and HeartStitch MR are 510K cleared for vascular suturing in the United States.

NobleStitch™ EL is distributed worldwide by HeartStitch®, Inc.
HeartStitch® is a registered trademark of HeartStitch, Inc.
The NobleStitch and HeartStitch products have several US and International patents and filings.

About Prof. Anthony A. Nobles:
Professor Anthony (Tony) Nobles is considered one of the great minds in the medical device field. He is world-renown inventor, professor, lecturer, author, mentor, entrepreneur, CEO of various companies and biomedical engineer. On the personal side, Tony is also a Formula One racecar driver, Warbird pilot, philanthropist and most importantly, a devoted husband and father of six. www.AnthonyNoblesEnterprises.com/HeartStitch