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AorTech Issued US Patent for
AorTech Issued US Patent for.
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[{"type":"text","content":"\n RNS Number : 2902W Aortech International PLC 27 July 2009 \n \n\n\n\n\n\nFor Immediate Release\n\n\nJuly 27, 2009\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAorTech Issued Patent for Polymer Heart Valve in United States\n\nAorTech International plc (AIM: AOR) the biomaterials and medical device development company, today announces the grant of the United States Patent for its Polymer Heart Valve ('PHV'). The addition of this patent expands AorTech's Heart Valve portfolio to include manifestations for percutaneous (catheter delivered), a minimally invasive surgical valve and a conventional open-heart surgically implanted device. AorTech has previously been issued PHV patents in the United Kingdom and Europe.\nStudied in-vitro and in-vivo since 2002, the AorTech Polymer Heart Valve has shown to have excellent durability and hydrodynamic characteristics comparable to the market leading tissue valves. In these studies, it has consistently demonstrated a remarkable freedom from calcification or thrombus formation. Additionally, the PHV exhibits significant manufacturing cost advantages over conventional valves, positioning it well for emerging economies in addition to Western Europe, the United States and Japan. \n'The issuing of this patent further strengthens our position in the polymer heart valve field. This technology, in combination with our existing Elast-Eon™ polymer portfolio, creates significant value for the Company and its shareholders,' said Frank Maguire, AorTech CEO. 'The development of this polymer heart valve remains an active project at AorTech and we look forward to its future contributions to revenues and earnings.'\nThe worldwide market for surgical heart valve products is in excess of $1 billion, growing at a rate of 8% per year. The catheter-delivered heart valve market is tracking at $200 million and is expected to ultimately eclipse the market for conventional surgical valves.\nAorTech develops and manufactures proprietary biostable, implantable polymers, including Elast-Eon, the world's leading long-term implantable copolymer. With more than one million implants and three years of successful long-term human implant&...