Percutaneous approaches to treat MR promise to provide a sufficient reduction in MR without the risks typically associated with open heart surgery. Furthermore there is an unmet clinical need for patients with severe MR who are refused or denied surgery due to high risk. Percutaneous therapy provides a novel alternative treatment option for these patients with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality over and above current medical therapy. The Polares Medical PLAR Implant and Delivery System is a catheter-based technology designed to permanently implant a prosthesis using a transvenous / transseptal approach to augment the posterior mitral valve leaflet and improve coaptation of the mitral valve. Approved edge-to-edge repair has already been shown to be a viable alternative for high risk MR patients. However treatment with these devices is limited to specific anatomies and often requires multiple devices which increases clinical risk, adds to procedural time, and can result in residual MR. The PLAR Implant and Delivery System has been designed to overcome and mitigate some of these shortfalls.
An early feasibility study to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the PLAR Implant and Delivery System to treat severe functional mitral regurgitation and to gather preliminary data on its performance thereby providing guidance for future clinical development. The study is a single-arm registry with the last follow-up visit at 5 years post-intervention. The study will enroll up to 10 patients at up to 4 centers in North America.