Doctors in Chennai have successfully treated a 58-year-old woman suffering from severe kidney disease (on dialysis), liver problems, and advanced heart disease, using India’s first indigenously developed Mitral Clip device—MyClip.
This marks a major milestone in making advanced cardiac care accessible and affordable in India.
For three years, the patient struggled with severe breathlessness, swollen feet, and extreme fatigue, unable to carry out daily activities. She was diagnosed with severe Mitral Regurgitation (MR)—a heart valve condition where blood leaks backward in the heart, causing worsening symptoms and heart failure risk.
Traditional treatment options like open-heart surgery or heart transplant were too risky and were not taken under consideration due to her age and other health problems. Medicines alone were not enough.
A new hope with MyClip
Thanks to the “Make in India” initiative, Meril, an Indian medical technology company, recently launched the MyClip mitral valve repair device after receiving the Medical Certification Board’s regulatory approval. Previously, only imported devices were available, which were unaffordable for most Indians.
Life-changing procedure
Prof. Dr Ajith Pillai, chief cardiologist & HOD at Kauvery Hospital, Radial Road, performed the minimally invasive MyClip procedure. Without the need for open-heart surgery, the device was placed via a small tube through a blood vessel. The patient’s symptoms improved dramatically—she is now able to manage and enjoy her daily routine.
Why this matters
Around 1.5 million Indians suffer from severe mitral regurgitation, many of whom are elderly and have complex health issues. In Tamil Nadu alone, thousands face similar challenges, with limited treatment options.
Expert’s perspective
Dr Pillai commented, “Patients with severe mitral regurgitation are often at high surgical risk due to age, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, frailty, or co-existing kidney, lung, and liver problems. If untreated, MR has devastating outcomes—more than 50 per cent may not survive, and one-year mortality can be as high as 57 per cent. For such patients, this non-surgical MyClip procedure offers a life-saving alternative.”
The “Make in India” breakthrough
Until recently, only US-made mitral clips were available in India, but their high cost made them unaffordable for most patients. In June 2025, the Indian company Meril launched the indigenously developed MyClip after receiving regulatory approvals.
