UC Davis Medical Center leads U.S. debut of innovative heart valve repair
UC Davis Medical Center
Sacramento, Calif.
A new treatment for a heart valve disorder may be on the horizon.
In July 2026, UC Davis Medical Center became the first hospital in the U.S. to use the CARLEN System to treat symptomatic functional mitral regurgitation, which occurs when the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t properly close and allows blood to leak backwards through the heart.
Mitral regurgitation is currently treated by clipping together two valve leaflets. While this works to close the gap, the change to the valve’s mechanics can lead to problems later on. In contrast, the CARLEN System, a transcatheter device, adds material to just one leaflet so that the leaflets can meet and seal on their own, which may better preserve their natural movement. Because it is less invasive than other treatments, it may also be better at preserving future treatment options if the patient’s heart disease progresses over time.
Jim Fowler was the first patient in the U.S. to receive the treatment, after experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, loss of energy and chest pain. He consulted with his cardiologist and was referred to Gagan Singh, M.D., director of the Structural Heart Program at UC Davis Health, and Singh determined that Fowler was a good candidate for the new treatment. Since receiving the two-hour treatment, Fowler has seen a marked improvement in his symptoms.
“At first, I was nervous about having a new type of procedure, but I just wanted to get better,” Fowler said. “If it was going to help, I felt it was worth trying.”
While Singh is proud of his team’s work in furthering CARLEN as a possible treatment for mitral regurgitation, the milestone isn’t what’s most important to him.
“Being first is exciting, but what matters most is giving patients access to new treatment options that can improve their quality of life,” he said. “This was truly a team effort, and every person involved helped make this possible.”