DENVER -- For patients who suffer from mitral regurgitation, even a simple thing like walking can be challenging.

"Mitral regurgitation means one of the heart valves, or mitral valves, is leaking, which causes the heart to work inefficiently," said cardiologist Dr. John Carroll from the University of Colorado Hospital.

Traditionally, patients can undergo open heart surgery to fix the weakening heart muscle, but not everyone can undergo the procedure. Adolph Wolff, 93, is one of them.

"I was dying because I have congestive heart failure. I have no choice. If something's defective, you gotta repair it," said Wolff.

Wolff decided to enroll in a clinical trial at the University of Colorado Hospital, using a clip that's smaller than the size of a traditional paper clip. The less invasive procedure uses what's called a MitraClip.

"This is a non-surgical procedure which means no incision. Rather, we go up from vein of leg with a catheter. It holds together in the middle the two leaflets, or doors, of the mitral valve. When they shut, the don't leak," said Carroll.

Wolff said he was able to go home the day after the procedure and the recovery time is quicker than traditional open heart surgery. He's now able to do a lot of the things he wasn't able to before the procedure.

"I do my yard work. I shovel snow. I could do anything I could before when I was a lot younger," said Wolff.

This is still in the clinical trial stages, but Dr. Carroll said so far the results are positive.

For more information on mitral regurgitation, go to mitralregurgitation.org

Or for more information on Evalve's MitraClip, go to eValveInc.com