Svensson hired as chief surgical officer at Cardiosolutions

Cardiosolutions has appointed Lars Svensson, MD, PhD, to the position of chief surgical officer.

Svensson is currently the director of the Center for Aortic Surgery and director of the Marfan Syndrome and Connective Tissue Disorder Clinic in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic.

The Stoughton, Mass.-based Cardiosolutions said it is developing its proprietary Percu-Pro System, a through-the-skin minimally invasive procedure for delivering a Mitra-Spacer into the heart for mitigating mitral regurgitation. The percutaneous system avoids open heart surgery—the current standard treatment for mitral regurgitation. The company said its technology consists of a spacer that is delivered to the mitral valve through a catheter inserted into a vein in the patient's leg.  

Svensson will lead the company's effort in exploring the potential for the surgical delivery of its Mitra-Spacer technology, according to the company. Svensson will also work alongside Thomas Piemonte, MD, chief medical officer at Cardiosolutions in advancing the catheter based, percutaneous delivery system of the spacer.

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