MRI technology enables non-invasive imaging of implantable blood filters
to prevent pulmonary embolism
1 May 2005
Biophan Technologies, Inc. (OTC BB:BIPH - News), has announced that a new
round of experimental tests have demonstrated the ability of the company's
proprietary technology to enable MRIs of Vena Cava filters. Vena Cava
filters are implanted in the Vena Cava of some patients undergoing surgery
to capture and trap blood clots that have the potential to cause embolisms.
These mobile blood clots are one of the most common potentially fatal
complications for patients undergoing surgery. Vena Cava filters are
implanted in the inferior Vena Cava, a large vein that carries blood to the
heart, to prevent blood clots released during surgery from causing pulmonary
embolisms; the filters can be left in place in the blood vessels on either a
temporary or permanent basis. Doctors image the filters after surgery to
determine if they have captured thrombotic material, and to determine when
it is safe to remove the filter. Biophan's pioneering technology
significantly improves the ability of doctors to image within the filters
using MRI.
Biophan has announced the online availability of a slide presentation
that demonstrates the clear and useful MRI images of Vena Cava filters that
the Company's proprietary AMRIS technology now makes possible. Biophan's
patented technology is the first solution to enable the production of Vena
Cava filters that can be accurately imaged by MRI; existing Vena Cava
filters produce MRI images of compromised quality and limited diagnostic
value.
The images shown in the newly released presentation employ Biophan's
"active" MRI solutions, based on the Company's proprietary resonant
frequency circuitry, which enable superior visualization of implanted
medical devices by MRI. The resonant circuit technology was developed by the
Company's Biophan Europe division, a firm in Germany formerly known as AMRIS
GmbH, which is a leading innovator of medical devices and technology
solutions for MRI. Biophan recently acquired a controlling interest in the
company.
The unprecedented clarity and diagnostic value of MRI images produced
with Biophan's resonant frequency circuitry opens the door to providing
physicians a powerful alternative to x-ray cathlab imaging of Vena Cava
filters. The images released by Biophan clearly illustrate the inadequacies
of both x-ray imaging of the filters, as well as of MRI imaging of
conventional Vena Cava filters that do not employ Biophan's solutions.
Biophan's MRI images of Vena Cava filters can be viewed as a PowerPoint
slide presentation by visiting
http://www.trilogy-capital.com/tcp/biophan/presentation.html
MRI imaging offers a number of significant medical and diagnostic
advantages over x-ray cathlab techniques currently in use. MRI imaging
involves no dangerous radiation for patients or healthcare professionals,
while x-ray imaging exposes both patients and practitioners to undesirable
ionizing radiation. X-ray cathlab procedures also require the use of
interventional catheters and injections of potentially nephro-toxic and
allergenic contrast agents, which are not necessary using MRI.
Furthermore, Vena Cava filters cannot be fully assessed by x-ray cathlab
imaging. This also presents a significant potential danger to patients,
since Vena Cava filters are designed to be removed after a few days, but
only if the filter is clear of thrombotic materials. If an attempt to remove
the filter is made while it holds trapped thrombotic materials, there is a
risk that the clot will be released into the bloodstream, causing a
potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. MRI images of Vena Cava filters
enhanced by Biophan's technology allow a non-invasive determination of the
filter's status, and thus safer timing of its removal.
"The technology and solutions we're working on at our Biophan Europe
division represent an important step in our strategy to develop proprietary
solutions that provide device manufacturers the technology to create
improved products," said Michael Weiner, CEO of Biophan. "Vena Cava filters
provide a lifesaving function during and after cardiac surgery, but their
effectiveness and safety are compromised by the difficulty of imaging the
interior of existing filters, which is necessary to determine when and if
the filter can be safely removed. Biophan's MRI-visible solution enables
doctors to give patients all the benefits of Vena Cava filters while
reducing the dangers that have been traditionally associated with use of the
devices."
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