Blood pump technology patent granted to MedQuest.MedQuest Products, Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT), was recently notified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property that a 'bedrock' patent for their HeartQuest VAD (Value Added Dealer) Same as VAR. has been issued. United States Patent 6,394,769, "Pump Having A Magnetically Suspended Rotor With One Active Control Axis", was issued with 21 claims, and represents the blood pump design with which MedQuest is proceeding toward clinical trials. This patent captures a number of design aspects that are extremely important for MedQuest to realize its vision of providing a 10 year-life implanted blood pump. The HeartQuest VAD will relieve the disabling symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure congestive heart failure, inability of the heart to expel sufficient blood to keep pace with the metabolic demands of the body. In the healthy individual the heart can tolerate large increases of workload for a considerable length of time. for the over 100,000 patients that could benefit from left ventricular support. Extended pump life is the core product advancement necessary for further expansion of LVAD LVAD left ventricular assist device; see ventricular assist device, under device. use. Dr. Gill Bearnson, IP Manager and a co-founder of MedQuest, believes that "This patent covers a broad range of designs, encompassing the simplest possible configuration for a magnetically levitated rotary blood pump, which is to use only one active axis of control for the levitation levitation (lĕvĭtā`shən), the raising of a human or other body in the air without mechanical aid. The idea is ancient; holy men, both pagan and Christian, were reputed to have had the power of becoming light at will and of moving system. We believe that the simplicity, compactness, and durability afforded by the design options covered by this patent will be very attractive to VAD patients and care providers. This patent is an important part of the foundation of our intellectual property portfolio." The HeartQuest System is expected to provide significant benefits over other blood pumps. These benefits are 10 year-life, enhanced patient freedom, easier and less traumatic implantation, and flow rates that will serve the broadest patient population of any implantable pump implantable pump Therapeutics A device installed under the skin to administer a steady dose of drugs . The benefits are derived from the simple, yet novel, application of magnetic levitation to blood pump design. Magnetic levitation is the application of passive and active magnetic fields magnetic fields, n.pl the spaces in which magnetic forces are detectable; created by magnetostrictive ultrasonic scalers to cause the tips of instruments such as ultrasonic scalers to vibrate. to suspend and control a titanium impellor that gently sweeps the blood through the pump, augmenting the function of the patient's left ventricle. By suspending the impeller in these magnetic fields, metal-on-metal contact areas (load bearings) and dependence on blood to provide lubrication lubrication, introduction of a substance between the contact surfaces of moving parts to reduce friction and to dissipate heat. A lubricant may be oil, grease, graphite, or any substance—gas, liquid, semisolid, or solid—that permits free action of and prevent such contact are eliminated. This dramatically reduces normal wear and tear on the pump giving it an extremely long life expectancy. MedQuest is a pioneer in the development of implantable ventricular assist devices. The HeartQuest ventricular assist devices is an implantable, centrifugal, pump design configuration utilizing a magnetically suspended impeller that provides frictionless, wear-free, pumping action. A ventricular assist devices boosts the output of a failing heart to normal levels. Congestive heart failure is the fastest growing segment of the cardiovascular disease market and is diagnosed in 550,000 Americans each year; over 200,000 deaths annually are attributed to congestive heart failure, according to American Heart Association American Heart Association (AHA), n.pr a national voluntary health agency that has the goal of increasing public and medical awareness of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, and thereby reducing the number of associated deaths and disabilities. 2002 statistics. MedQuest Products Inc. +1-801-355-6255 www.medquest-inc.com |
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