Medtronic CoreValve study initiated in Japan

Medtronic ($MDT) has reported the first implant of its CoreValve system in a clinical trial in Japan. The study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the system. "With the number of aortic valve stenosis patients steadily rising as the Japanese population ages, we consider this an important step towards the introduction of a new therapeutic option to the healthcare system," said Professor Yoshiki Sawa, who led the procedure. Medtronic release