Arterial Banding

Carag has developed a clip which allows for a quick, simple and controlled banding of the pulmonary arteries. Using the clip instead of the conventional banding gives the vessels room to grow despite blood flow restriction; after removal of the clip no wrinkles or adhesions remain on the vessels.

The Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome HLHS is a rare congenital heart defect, presenting a combination of several malformations of the heart and the aorta. Characteristic for the hypoplastic left heart is the dependance on the blood flow through the ductus arteriosus.

Babies with HLHS have to be treated within the first days after birth to secure sufficient oxygen-rich blood flow to the body. The Hybrid procedure was developed as an alternative to the established Norwood procedure with a series of surgeries on the open heart within the first weeks. The Hybrid procedure involves as a first step a controlled blood flow restriction (banding) of the pulmonary arteries and the securing of the opening of the ductus. Conventional banding is done with a textile band around the pulmonary artery. After 3 to 6 months reconstructive surgery is performed, including the removal of the banding. Advantage of the Hybrid procedure is the postponing of the first highly invasive surgeries by a few months.

Together with Prof. Dr. René Prêtre, PD Dr. Hitendu Dave and Prof. Dr. Oliver Kretschmar from the University Children's Hospital Zurich Carag has developed a clip which allows for a quick, simple and controlled banding of the pulmonary arteries. Using the clip instead of the conventional banding gives the vessels room to grow despite blood flow restriction; after removal of the clip no wrinkles or adhesions remain on the vessels.

Working with Carag medtech engineers provided the unique opportunity to combine concept development with solution finding. during all stages leading to a new medical device, from the initial idea, to the actual production, the fine-tuning, the organization and access to an animal laboratory, testing the product for safety, and getting all required experts to get involved in the process, Carag uses its own know-how and imports whatever else is required through its network to achieve its goals.

Prof. Dr. Ali Dodge-Khatami, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon

I know Carag since several years as a reliable and future-oriented industry partner with highly skilled and enthusiastic staff members, who do not hesitate to approach and follow a couple of challenging projects in the medical "fringe area" of congenital heart defects.

Prof. Dr. Oliver Kretschmar, Pediatric Cardiologist, Zurich

In our daily clinical routine, especially in the treatment of small children and infants, we repeatedly encounter situations in which today's possibilities of medical technology are inadequate. An idea and a project sketch quickly emerge from such situations. The CARAG team is able to make a clear estimate of the effort required for product development, regulatory approval and marketing in advance, thus enabling realistic planning. I have experienced this cooperation as very positive and constructive.

Prof. Dr. Christian Balmer, Pediatric Cardiologist, Zurich