Clinical Research Directory

Prospective, Long-term Evaluation of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra RESILIA Valve

Evaluation of clinical outcomes and valve performance of the SAPIEN 3 Ultra Resilia (S3UR) valve over 10 years.

Frequency of Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Hypotension in TAVR Patients

Within 30 minutes before anesthesia, acupoint electrical stimulation at different frequencies were applied at Neiguan, Jian Shi, and Baihui. The changes in blood pressure during the anesthesia induction period were compared between the high-frequency group and the low-frequency group.

TAVR for Aortic Regurgitation Under TTE Guidance

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is an established therapy for severe aortic valve disease, yet conventional workflows rely on fluoroscopy and iodinated contrast, exposing patients and operators to ionizing radiation and posing challenges for individuals with chronic kidney disease, contrast allergy, or other contraindications. In patients with native aortic regurgitation, the absence of annular/leaflet calcification and frequent annular dilation can further complicate device positioning and anchoring, increasing the procedural dependence on precise imaging guidance. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) provides real-time assessment of valve anatomy, coaxial alignment, depth control, and immediate hemodynamic results, and-when used as the primary imaging modality-offers a potential "radiation- and contrast-free" alternative for selected patients. However, clinical evidence for fully TTE-guided (echo-only) TAVR remains limited. Here, the investigators describe our procedural workflow and evaluate the feasibility and early outcomes of total TTE-guided TAVR for treating aortic regurgitation.

Phenotyping Left Ventricle Failure With Hemodynamic Biomarkers From 4D Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging

This study aims to enhance and streamline intracardiac 4D Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) processing by increasing automation for the quantitative and systematic assessment of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The study is designed to achieve the following three objectives. The primary objective is to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning model for the automatic segmentation of the LV endocardial contour throughout the cardiac cycle using intracavitary MRI data. To support model training, a dataset of LV endocardial wall segmentations will be generated from balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) images. A purpose-built retrospective MRI database of bSSFP images will be retrieved to accelerate training set creation. The secondary objective is to develop a numerical framework for non-invasive MRI-based pressure-volume (PV) loop reconstruction and calculation of simplified hemodynamic force descriptors (HDFs). A prospective cohort of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) will be enrolled. Pre-procedural non-contrast 4D Flow MRI will be acquired, and non-invasive MRI-derived PV loops will be quantitatively compared with invasive catheter-based PV loop measurements. In addition, simplified HDFs will be compared with 4D Flow-derived HDFs to assess their agreement and their potential to elucidate specific features of heart failure-related LV dysfunction. The tertiary objective is to establish the foundation for a unified, standalone, and clinically deployable framework for comprehensive, automated, and clinician-friendly analysis of LV hemodynamics based on 4D Flow MRI. Internal testing, benchmarking, and structured evaluation by clinical end-users with prior 4D Flow MRI research experience will be conducted to collect feedback and guide further development and clinical translation.

TRanscAtheter TreatMent of PurE Aortic Regurgitation With VitaFlow Liberty System

This study is a prospective, multicenter, non-randomized controlled trial, planning to enroll 180 patients with pure native aortic regurgitation. On the basis of standardized medical therapy, patients will be assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) . This prospective, multicenter trial aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transfemoral TAVR using the VitaFlow™ self-expanding valve system compared to dedicated transcatheter devices in patients with PNAR. The primary endpoint is a composite of all-cause mortality, disabling stroke, and rehospitalization for heart failure, myocardial Infarction, and requiring dialysis or valve reoperation at 12 months post-procedure. Secondary endpoints include procedure-related complications, long-term clinical events, patient functional status and quality of life, bioprosthetic valve imaging follow-up, echocardiographic parameters, and treatment costs. All endpoint definitions conform to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 (VARC-3) criteria

CardioLogical Interventions and Acute strOke Treatment sTudy

The study aims to investigate characteristics and prognosis of ischemic stroke cases following cardiological interventions, focusing on the effectiveness and safety of acute ischemic stroke treatments.

Cohort Observing Mechanisms, Progression and Sequelae of Valvular Heart Disease

The objective of this study is to evaluate and predict the progression of moderate cardiac valve stenosis and regurgitation using clinical, biological, echocardiographic, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Additionally, the study aims to analyze the potential impact of device-based interventions, pharmacological therapy, and lifestyle modifications on disease progression.

Assessment of Coronary Artery Disease Before Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Randomized, Multicenter, Non-Inferiority Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether a non-invasive coronary assessment strategy using photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) is non-inferior to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for evaluating coronary artery disease (CAD) prior to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

A Clinical Study on the Use of the Sentinel Cerebral Protection Device During TAVR for the Prevention of Procedure-Related Stroke

After more than a decade of development, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is now a standard, guideline-recommended treatment for all symptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis, regardless of their surgical risk. However, stroke remains a risk for these patients after TAVR. Given its severe impact-significantly increasing post-procedure mortality and severely affecting quality of life-preventing TAVR-related stroke is an urgent problem we need to solve. The Sentinel Cerebral Protection Device is a percutaneous dual-filter brain protection system. During the procedure, the Sentinel device's filters capture blood clots and tissue debris. After the operation, the captured clots and debris are removed from the body along with the device. Its safety and effectiveness have been validated. Therefore, this project plans to conduct a multi-center registry clinical study to: Develop a widespread neurological risk prediction model. Create a strict, standardized prevention protocol. Boost awareness of perioperative stroke prevention during TAVR. Provide practical clinical experience. By doing so, we aim to better prevent strokes in patients undergoing TAVR.

RAFT-TAVR PACE: LBBAP Vs. RVP Post-TAVR in Patients Requiring PPI

The RAFT-TAVR PACE study is a clinical trial designed to compare two types of heart pacing methods in patients who develop conduction problems after undergoing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. This study will evaluate whether Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing (LBBAP), a newer and more natural pacing method, is better than the traditional Right Ventricular Pacing (RVP) at improving heart function and patient outcomes. The study aims to recruit 60 patients across six centers and will focus on the safety, feasibility, and success of LBBAP compared to RVP. Patients will be followed for one year to assess heart function, quality of life, and any complications related to the pacing method.