The ATS Open Pivot® Heart Valve utilizes a fundamentally different design intended to offer you unique advantages over traditional cavity pivot valves. Unlike any other heart valve on the market, the ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve was developed to improve thromboresistance by doing what might now seem obvious – eliminate the major cause of the problem, the cavity. The following enhancements put the ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve literally in a class by itself.

• Unlike all other bileaflet valves, ATS Open Pivot Valves have no recesses or cavities in the pivot area which could provide areas for stasis and platelet aggregation.^1,2
• Leaflets pivot smoothly on small convex hinge points which extend into the flow path, minimizing flow disruption and turbulence.³

The open pivot design ensures that the ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve has no cavities where persistent recirculating flow may occur.1 [Watch Video]

Unique Axis of Suspension
With no cavity to contend with, the leaflets are placed to provide a fundamentally unique axis of leverage whereby 92% of the leaflet is distal to the axis of suspension, making the valve extremely responsive to blood flow and gentler on the blood.⁴

A unique axis of leverage results in less force to open and close leaflets, lower pressure drops and leaflet movement more responsive to physiological demands.4,5,6,7

Continuous Passive Washing
Continuous passive washing ensures complete washing of the pivot in both open and closed positions with less force required to open and close leaflets.

The unimpeded flow of blood through the pivot area provides for gentle treatment of red blood cells and low levels of hemolysis.8,9 [Watch Video]

Won’t Compromise Implantability for Improved Flow
Because of the unique leaflet placement, there is no need to manipulate leaflet motion by extending the orifice in any way. This allows for a single-plane orifice, providing ease of implantability. And its orifice of thin yet strong pyrolytic carbon and titanium strengthening band provide excellent orifice-to-annulus ratios without compromising structural integrity.

Single-plane orifice allows for improved seating and suturing. Minimal sub-annular exposure reduces orifice ring stress and possibility for sub-aortic inflammation.

Barely Audible Valve Sound
The ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve has been shown to be considerably quieter than traditional cavity pivot designs. It is suggested that perhaps the efficient opening and closing of the leaflets and cushioning effects of continuous passive washings contributes to all the non-noise. Further, patients have reported they cannot hear the valve during normal daily activity.^10,11,12

The Open Pivot Design in Multiple Product Configurations
ATS Open Pivot® Standard Heart Valve – Aortic and Mitral
ATS Open Pivot® AP™ Heart Valve – Aortic and Mitral
ATS Open Pivot® Apex™ Heart Valve – Aortic
ATS Open Pivot® Aortic Valved Graft (AVG)