CardioTech International, Inc. announces ChronoFlex chosen for pioneering cardiac devices
WOBURN, Mass.--(BW HealthWire)--May 6, 1997--CardioTech International Inc. (AMEX:CTE) today announced that its polycarbonate-based polyurethane, ChronoFlex(R), had been used by the Cardiovascular Research Unit at the University of Cape Town Medical School, South Africa, to fabricate two innovative cardiac implants that are in development.
Dr. Willie Koen, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Groote Schuur Hospital, who heads the project, commented, "We have chosen ChronoFlex because we believe that it is biodurable and biocompatible on a long-term basis, which is vital to us in our work of designing and developing long-term critical cardiac implants. We use ChronoFlex to build a skeleton or framework into which, by advanced tissue engineering techniques developed at this University, we can add cells that will replicate and form into a bio-syntethic structure. We believe that the combinations of the strength and biodurability of ChronoFlex with natural biological flow surfaces that inhibit thrombus formation will give our products in development an advantage. We are using this structure in our work to develop improved cardiac valves and bio-synthetic artificial heart surfaces. Initial results of In Vivo experimental implants of both devices are encouraging."
Dr. Koen will present his work entitled "Defying the Deadlock in Artificial Heart Research: Surface Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering" at the 43rd Annual Conference of the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, in early May.
The company believes that this release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding potential sales and uses of ChronoFlex, the long-term properties of ChronoFlex and the initial In Vivo results of relating to the experimental implants. Such statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The company cautions investors that there can be no assurance that the actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements, as a results of various factors, including but not limited to the following: other parties developing products that compete with ChronoFlex, the timely development of products by Cape Town Medical School using ChronoFlex, the company's ability to become a supplier of Cape Town Medical School, if at all, the company's ability to obtain financing to support its working capital needs, intense competition related to and difficulties inherent in the development of synthetic implantable medical devices. As a result, the company's further development involves a high degree of risk.
CONTACT: CardioTech International Inc.
John Mattern, 617-933-4772 |
