ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 27 -- United States Patent no. 12,773,318, issued on Oct. 27, was assigned to Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (Irvine, Calif.).

"Native valve repair devices and procedures" was invented by Asher L. Metchik (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.), Gregory Scott Tyler II (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Matthew T. Winston (Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Sergio Delgado (Irvine, Calif.), Lauren R. Freschauf (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Eric Robert Dixon (Villa Park, Calif.) and Alexander J. Siegel (Irvine, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a base, a first paddle, a second paddle, and a rack and pinion mechanis...