Irvine-based heart valve maker Edwards Life Sciences Corporation had seen a rise in share prices this Friday. The shares rose up to 3% with a market value of $3.9 billion. This rise had been against a back drop of a down day for Wall Street.

According to analyst Bruce Nudell, Edwards has improved its less invasive Sapien heart valve. The patients who will get a Sapien valve will reduce the chances of a new pacemaker. Edwards has gained an advantage over its competitor Medtronic Inc.’s Cone valve.

Nudell shared information that both the replacement valves require a pacemaker replacement but the chances have reduced for Sapien which will be more accepted than the Cone valve. It will be introduced in Europe next year and the higher percentage of general awareness of this added advantage will facilitate the use of Sapien XT over the Cone Valve.

Edwards is planning to conduct a major clinical trial for Sapien by seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration in late 2011.

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