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Intellectual Property Office

Non-Confidential Disclosures

"Coatings for Implantable Medical Devices"

PSU Invention Disclosure No. 2005-3059

Field of the Invention:

Surgeons use implantable medical devices to save patients' lives or to improve their quality of life. The judicious selection of a coating to minimize complications associated with implantation can enhance the value of existing products by improving patient outcome. The present invention provides a number of benefits to implantable medical devices, particularly to implantable assist devices. Our coating not only results in a significant decrease in postoperative complications but also allows for expedited explantation of the device.

Inventors:

T. Khalapyan

Invention description:

Although a profound technological accomplishment, LVAD implantation is still associated with a significant number of complications. Infection is one of the most serious complications and is frequently associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Treatment of implant-related infection is difficult, expensive and frequently necessitates removal of the pump. Because these are life-sustaining devices - explantation may be a risky, if not impossible, option. Due to a lack of donor hearts, an increasing number of patients must now undergo bridge to transplantation. The use of an assist device as a bridge to transplantation makes reoperation mandatory. Mediastinal or pocket adhesions increase the time of explantation of the device and increase blood loss.


Advantages:

  • A low cost device coating to reduce postoperative complications
  • Clinically approved for other applications
  • Compatible with the device sterilization process
  • Reduces early postoperative pocket bleeding and eliminates late pocket bleeding
  • Reduces tissue irritation and thermal damage
  • Eliminates pocket seromas and accumulation of serosanguineous effusions
  • Allows growth of a healthy, thin, vascularized tissue capsule in the vicinity of the device

Patent Status:

Patent Pending

Contact:

James F. Kolonay, Ph.D.
Technology Licensing Officer
Intellectual Property Office
The Pennsylvania State University
113 Technology Center
University Park, PA 16802-7000
Phone: (814) 863-7070
Fax: (814) 865-3591
E-mail: jfk11@psu.edu