CMU Grads Developing Heart Valve For Children

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - Three Carnegie Mellon University graduates are currently working on a plan to market a heart valve for children that could avoid them undergoing multiple open heart surgeries.

The device could help around 3,000 children born with a specific birth defect each year.

Peca Labs, short for pediatric cardiovascular, CEO Doug Brenstein came up with the idea for the heart valve's new design and plan to bring it to market.

Brenstein joined Bill Rehkopf on the Afternoon News to talk about his idea and how it all came into fruition.

"I actually got started on the project by answering an ad for one of my classes," he said. "The original design (for the valve) was already saving kids' lives, but because it wasn't FDA approved couldn't be marketed."

Brenstein also added, "I was bothered by the idea that you could have the technology to save kids lives, but couldn't use it."

The valve will help kids avoid going through a reconstructive heart surgery and help with the connection of the heart to the lungs.

You can hear the whole interview below:

You can always catch the Afternoon News on KDKA with Bill Rehkopf weekdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.