Healthcare Industry News: ventricular assist device
News Release - October 10, 2006
CardioVascular Technologies, Inc. Announces Patent Notice of Allowance for Its Sutureless Anastomosis Coupler Technology - System Enables Clampless Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery
PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 10 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- CardioVascular Technologies, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has recently received a Notice of Allowance for its patent application titled, "Vascular Couplers, Techniques, Methods, and Accessories." The allowed patent includes four broad Independent claims.The coupler system enables clampless coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, minimizing aortic manipulation and embolic dislodgement by not requiring cross-clamping or aortic side-biting during the procedure. By not utilizing a clamp on the aorta, the system has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which occurs in up to approximately 50% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
The sutureless vascular coupler system can be used during cardiopulmonary supported procedures, as well as off-pump / beating heart, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), endoscopic or robotically assisted surgical procedures.
Additional benefits of the sutureless vascular coupler technology described in the allowed patent include:
-- Single piece coupler design with integrated strain relief (45 degrees
or less) -- no separate external vessel component (such as a collar,
clip, grommet, etc.) is required,
-- Simple graft loading procedure (< 20 seconds), with minimal graft
manipulation,
-- Rapid coupler deployment (< 5 seconds),
-- System does not enlarge or expand the aortotomy during coupler
deployment,
-- No introducer or plunger is required for coupler deployment -- only a
simple $2.00 tool,
-- Coupler compliance allows radial vessel expansion and contraction
similar to a sutured anastomosis,
-- Once deployed, the coupler automatically ensures that all securing
elements are in contact with the inside of the vessel wall,
-- Very limited foreign material contact with blood or vessel,
-- Reinforced anastomosis area (exterior vessel flange) for mechanical
securing and acute hemostasis,
-- Couplers can be coated and / or embedded with therapeutic materials to
positively affect healing at the anastomosis site,
-- Much less costly to use when compared to other systems because there
are fewer required components and accessories,
-- The coupler system is simple to learn and simple to use.
Other versions of the coupler (also included in the allowed patent) are designed to be used as a temporary holding device (sutureless catheter securement device) for indwelling catheters, cannula, introducers, IV lines or other devices. The coupler may be used to hold a catheter or other, at a fixed or movable length from the outside of a patient. The inside of the coupler may have a valve, ring, gasket or other, that provides fluid sealing as well as a mechanical interference fit between the inside of the coupler and the outside of the catheter or other device.
Additional versions of the coupler technology include a sutureless cannula (inflow and outflow) to vessel and or heart chamber connecting means (for a ventricular assist device (VAD) or other cardiovascular support system).
The Company is currently looking for a partner or strategic alliance to develop the technology and commercialize the resultant devices -- The Company may also be interested in licensing (Field of Use) or selling this technology.
We believe that the multiple implementations of the technology included in the patent will prove to be important and enabling to the acquiring company. In addition, the case offers the additional advantage of the possibility of combining it with other pending cases (possibly from the acquiring company) as one or more CIP cases, while still retaining the earliest priority date for the core technology. Prior to the issuance of this patent, we will file a Continuation case to broaden the coverage for the technology, as well as to keep the case active for future CIPs or Divisional cases.
For additional detailed information on the Sutureless Anastomosis Coupler Technology, contact us at info@cvtechinc.com
About CardioVascular Technologies, Inc.
CardioVascular Technologies, Inc. (CVT) is a biomedical device development company, specializing in the creation of cutting edge surgical and catheter-based technologies. We assist companies of all sizes, as well as individuals (including physicians, engineers, and entrepreneurs). Our consulting services focus on two specific areas, intellectual property and rapid prototype development.
Additional company information is available at www.cvtechinc.com.
Source: CardioVascular Technologies
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