FDA Poised To Approve New Heart Valve That Doesn't Require Open Heart Surgery

06.13.12 | Sarah Harnisch

An F.D.A. panel meets today to consider expanding the use of a first-of-its-kind non-surgical artificial heart valve. The "Sapien" heart valve can be put in without open heart surgery.  The Sapien valve won F.D.A. approval last November for use in patients not healthy enough to undergo the surgery required for other valves.