MICROMEDICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED 2001-06-19 ASX-SIGNAL-G
HOMEX - Brisbane
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
A sheep implanted with an artificial
heart in Melbourne has given
birth to a healthy male lamb. The birth is
an Australian first and
gives new hope to patients who cannot tolerate
anticoagulants used
with other artificial hearts.
The sheep is one of several being tested for MicroMedical
Industries,
the inven
tor and developer of the VentrAssist
artificial heart.
Professor Don Esmore, the Head of The Alfred Hospital surgical
team
which carried out the implants said that mother and son were
both
doing well.
Professor Esmore was made an officer of the Order of Australia in
the
Queen's Birthday Honours List earlier this week.
The sheep is one of a series to be implanted with the
revolutionary
artificial heart being developed by MicroMedical
Industries of
Sydney. The device - about
the size of a child's fist
is so small it
will be suitable for use in women and children.
Professor Esmore said that the birth of the lamb showed
the
Australian artificial heart was potentially suitable for use
with
pregnant women because it could be used without
anticoagulants.
"Most other artificial hearts rely on anticoagulants which carry
a
high risk during pregnancy. However, the MicroMedical device does
not
appear to need these, making it suitable for many more heart
patients."
The Chief Executive officer of MicroMedical Industries, Dr
John
Woodard, said the animal trials have been held over the past
18
months and are at an advanced stage. "This latest breakthrough is
a
real development and has proved the device's technology and
confirmed
it will be ready for clinical trials in the near future."
MicroMedical's artificial heart, or LVAD (left ventricular
assist
device) is made of titanium and has eliminated the need for
shafts
and beari
ngs that damage blood and cause clotting. This is a
common
fault with other, bulkier artificial hearts.
Last month the company was granted a United States Patent that
covers
all aspects of its "VentrAssist" rotary blood pump and
other
applications of the miniaturised artificial heart technology.
The most significant feature covered by the US Patent is the
full
hydrodynamic suspension of a rotary blood pump impeller, the key
to
MicroMedical's revolutionary heart pump device.
The impeller "floats" in the blood which it is pumping and does
not
require contact bearings, shafts or seals. Because it
is
hydrodynamically suspended, the impeller is a
substantial
technological advantage over the much more complex
electromagnetic
suspension systems incorporated in other rotary blood
pumps currently
under development by competitors.
Dr Woodard said hydrodynamic suspension offered
simplicity,
reliability and increased device longevity.
Dr Woodard present
ed an invited talk at the American Society
for
Artificial Internal Organs' Annual Conference in New York last
week
on the VentrAssist artificial heart. The US market for the device
is
estimated to be worth $12 billion annually.
For further information:
Dr John Woodard, CEO, MicroMedical Industries Ltd (02) 9422
3107
Released through Peter Baker, Michels Warren (02) 9957
4233
See IRG research reports
