The US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent to US-based Colibri Heart Valve for a pre-packaged, sterilized, dry heart valve pre-mounted on a delivery system.

The Patent No 8,361,144, which is entitled as ‘Percutaneously Deliverable Heart Valve Device And Methods Associated Therewith’, allows the company to expand the use of its ready-for-use Colibri transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) system into all heart valve applications.

The patent will provide the company with intellectual property rights until 2031.

In addition to US patent, Colibri is seeking patent rights in a number of foreign countries.

Colibri Heart Valve president and chief executive officer Joseph Horn said, "With the recent issuance of this patent and the successful first-in-human implantation of the Colibri ready-to-use TAVI system, which is reflected in this patent, we believe Colibri has a meaningful opportunity in the THV market."