TTK Healthcare and Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology have bagged the
National award for successful commercialization of indigenous technology 2001 for developing artificial heart valve prosthesis.
It is a tilting disc valve design incorporating a metallic housing, which is integrally machined from a cobalt based wrought alloy. The circular disc inside is made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

A polyester suture ring is provided for stitching the valve into the muscle of the heart, said Prof. A.V Ramani, Senior Group Vice-President at a press conference.

The development of the device started during the early eighties with intensive research and brought to clinical usage during December 1990.

The product costing around Rs. 18,000 (nearly on third of the cost of the imported artificial valves) has been successfully commercialized by TTK Healthcare Limited (formerly TTK Pharma), Chennai and is marketed under the
brand name of TTK Chitra heart valve prosthesis. The product had already been tested in the U.S, Singapore, and Germany.

The valves are being produced under the supervision of Prof. AV. Ramani at the TTK’s Healthcare unit in Bangalore.Reliance Industries has been providing its manufacturing facility for making polyethylene, Mr. T.T. Raghunathan, vice chairman said....Read More