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ROCHESTER,
N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 2005--
New Patents Strengthen Company's Competitive Advantage
in Several Multi-Billion-Dollar Healthcare Markets
Biophan Technologies,
Inc. (OTC BB: BIPH), a developer of next-generation
biomedical technology, has announced the issuance
of two new patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office that extend the Company's competitive edge
in the marketplace for the rapidly emerging field
of MRI safety and image compatibility for medical
instruments and implanted devices. Michael Weiner,
CEO of Biophan, made the announcement.
These newly-issued
patents build on the base Biophan has already established
with the development of proprietary solutions that
make medical devices safe and compatible with the
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. Currently,
millions of patients with implanted medical devices,
such as pacemakers, cannot be safely or effectively
imaged with MRI technology, and those with stents
have to undergo invasive diagnostic procedures due
to image problems with MRI and X-ray that have previously
limited the ability to see the inside of a stent.
"The new patents
will help ensure Biophan's leadership position and
competitive advantages in improving over $12 billion
of medical devices which ship every year with limitations
in working with MRI," said Mr. Weiner. "Biophan
has already gained important patent and technological
command of the three fundamental approaches to MRI
compatibility: anti-antenna designs, which is the
subject of a recently issued U.S. patent; nanomagnetic
particle thin-film coatings, in which today's issued
patent adds to our already broad coverage and specifically
teaches how to shield conductors such as pacemaker
leads and guidewires; and photonics, where we've developed
extensive fiber-optic solutions and patent coverage
useful in addressing problems of MRI imaging and safety."
One of the newly-issued
patents, issued to Biophan technology partner, Nanoset
LLC, provides fundamental patent protection for a
range of very important nano-particulate thin-film
coating characteristics that enable them to provide
the electro-magnetic shielding to make medical devices
safe and image compatible under MRI environments.
The second newly-issued
patent relates to the creation of medical leads or
wires that are based upon fiber-optic components.
Applications include the use of leads for implantable
devices and for interventional medical procedures.
They also cover the use of external leads used to
receive and relay information through the MRI environment,
such as surface-mounted ECG electrode data. The patents
describe methods that make such systems safe and image
compatible, with virtually zero interference with
MRI images.
Mr. Weiner added:
"While Biophan previously discontinued work on
a photonic pacemaker lead when our other development
efforts solved the problems in a much simpler and
more cost-effective manner, we believe that a range
of future implantable and surgical medical devices
will use photonic solutions, and we are pleased to
have a large and growing patent portfolio covering
this emerging capability."
The newly issued patents
have also furthered Biophan's progress toward finalizing
agreements with product development and manufacturing
partners in the healthcare industry. "The issuance
of these Biophan patents and others, such as the anti-antenna
patent, and nanoparticle coatings, has been very helpful
in moving negotiations into the final contract phase,"
said Mr. Weiner. "There is a certain degree of
uncertainty with patents that are pending and a strong
degree of strength when patents actually issue with
strong claims. Clearly, in the areas of making devices
safe and visible under MRI, we have covered the waterfront.
Similarly, when it comes to making stents visible
under MRI, we clearly have both the demonstrated capability
and the intellectual property coverage."
The devices covered
by Biophan's intellectual property portfolio cover
not only today's products, but also key components
of future medical devices. Such next-generation products
include diagnostic implants, such as smart stents
and other implantable devices where the device and
electrical circuitry are both safe and visible with
MRI, and are also capable of communicating telemetry
to physicians without interference.
"We are pleased
to now be making progress with multiple companies
on both exclusive and non-exclusive arrangements across
a wide arena of biomedical devices that have the potential
to make a significant improvement in the ability of
physicians to care for their patients," said
Mr. Weiner. "This was our founding mission, and
we are pleased to be demonstrating this continued
progress."
About Biophan Technologies
Biophan develops and
markets cutting-edge technologies designed to make
biomedical devices safe and compatible with the magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) environment. The Company develops
enabling technologies for implanted medical systems
such as pacemakers and interventional surgical devices
such as catheters, guidewires, stents, and other implants
to allow them to be safely and effectively imaged
under MRI. The technology is also being used to create
MRI contrast agents, and has expanded to include other
applications, such as drug delivery and power systems
derived from body heat. Four Biophan technologies
include advances in nanotechnology and thin-film coatings.
Committed to growth through innovation and developmental
leadership, Biophan and its licensors now hold a total
of 104 U.S. patents, licenses, or applications. This
total includes 28 issued U.S. patents, 8 recently-allowed
applications that will issue as patents in the near
future, and 68 pending applications at various stages
of examination at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The patents cover areas including nanotechnology (nanomagnetic
particle coatings), radio frequency filters, polymer
composites, thermoelectric materials for batteries
generating power from body heat, and photonics. Biophan
has joint development arrangements with Boston Scientific
(NYSE: BSX) and NASA's Ames Center for Nanotechnology.
Biophan's goal is to make all biomedical devices capable
of safely and successfully working with MRI, and delivering
other technologies which will improve quality of life.
For more information, please visit www.biophan.com.
Contacts
Biophan Technologies, Inc.
Carolyn Hotchkiss, 585-214-2407
or
Press Interviews
Jennifer Gould, 212-843-8037
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