Transcatheter heart valve (TAVI) companies are hot. A market that was worth $20-$30 million just two or three years ago, based on devices with an average selling price of $23,000, was worth more than $400 million in 2010, and to date these products are only approved in Europe. A major stumbling block to widespread penetration exists however: the higher risk of stroke seen with TAVI as compared to surgical valve replacement. Thus, investors are spreading the net out further, to scoop up companies developing embolic protection devices, to solve some of the potential neuro problems that can result from TAVI.

Transcatheter heart valve (TAVI) companies are hot. A market that was worth $20-$30 million just two or three years ago, based on devices with an average selling price of $23,000, was worth more than $400 million in 2010, and to date these products are only approved in Europe. A major stumbling block to widespread penetration exists however: the higher risk of stroke seen with TAVI as compared to surgical valve replacement. Thus, investors are spreading the net out further, to scoop up companies developing embolic protection devices, to solve some of the potential neuro problems that can result from TAVI.

In Vivo interviews device entrepreneur Fred Khosravi about his secrets for success in medical device company creation. Khosravi was part of the ACS organization that eventually became Guidant, where he was on the leading edge of the coronary stent revolution. That experience provided Khosravi with a broad background in interventional cardiology devices that was useful in starting his first company, carotid stent company EndoTex Interventional Systems (which was acquired by Boston Scientific) and several other successful companies.