Transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) has evolved as a routine procedure to treat selected high-risk elderly patients. In the vast majority, the balloon-expandable SAPIEN™ prosthesis has been used for TA-AVI. The new JenaValve™ prosthesis is designed for antegrade transapical implantation and consists of a self-expandable Nitinol™ stent with a porcine tissue-prosthesis mounted on a sheath-less delivery catheter. Key features of the device are three 'positioning feelers' facilitating intuitive 'self-positioning' valve implantation. The JenaValve™ concept results in a subcoronary valve position with an anatomically correct valve rotation relying on axial in addition to radial fixation by the three Nitinol™ 'feelers' embracing the native valve leaflets. Here, we report the successful first-in-man implantation in an elderly high-risk patient using a transapical off-pump approach. The JenaValve™ demonstrated proof of concept and a good functional result immediately after deployment and at 12-months' follow-up. Copyright © 2011 European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
