Hancock Aortic Tissue Valve

The Hancock Aortic Tissue Valve is a prosthetic heart valve used in cardiac surgery to replace a damaged or diseased aortic valve. It was developed by American engineer Warren Hancock working with medical collaborators including Thomas J. Fogarty during the late 1960s and early 1970s, and Medtronic first brought the device to market in 1983. The valve is built from porcine, or pig, tissue shaped to mimic a natural human heart valve, a bioprosthetic approach that reduces the need for the lifelong anticoagulation therapy mechanical valves require while still providing good blood flow performance and biocompatibility, making it a significant option for patients needing aortic valve replacement for conditions such as aortic stenosis or regurgitation.