The implants provided by Edwards Lifesciences is a SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve. Which consist of a sheath, guidewire, balloon, valve and ancillaries that are used in surgical procedures called Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR or TAVI). The TAVR procedure is performed through the transfemoral approach. An incision will be made in the patients leg, where the doctor will insert a short, hollow tube called a sheath. The Edwards SAPIEN 3 transcatheter heart valve will be placed on the delivery system and compressed on a balloon. The delivery system carrying the valve will be placed through the sheath and delivered to the aortic valve. The balloon of the delivery system will be inflated, expanding the new valve within the diseased valve. The valve will push the leaflets of the diseased valve aside, securing itself into place. The new valve begins working immediately.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for medical supplies or medical services necessary for the delivery of care and treatment at medical, dental, or veterinary teaching facilities utilized by SIU or U of I (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b-5)) Edwards Lifescience implants have to do with direct patient care. Without access to their sheath, guidewire, balloon, valve and ancillaries the hospital would not be able to offer Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement procedures, which in tern would drive patients elsewhere and a loss in revenue to the hospital.