Patent Is The 25th In Myocor’s Growing Intellectual Property Portfolio
MINNEAPOLIS, May 13, 2004 — Myocor®, Inc., a clinical evaluation stage medical company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the company U.S. Patent No. 6,723,038 entitled “Methods and Devices for Improving Mitral Valve Function.” The patent broadly stakes another claim in the developing “shape change” cardiovascular arena, covering methods for improving heart valve function using a device to alter the shape of the valve and adjusting the device based on real-time ultrasound imaging.*
This represents the 25th issued U.S. patent in the company’s growing intellectual property portfolio, which not only robustly protects its MyoSplint® and Coapsys™ technologies, but also transcends device-specific approaches to broadly cover a variety of different modes for changing the shape of cardiac structures to treat heart disease.
In addition to its 25 issued U.S. patents, Myocor has more than 15 U.S. patent applications pending, with corresponding foreign patent applications in key technology areas. The pending applications have priority dates going back to as early as 1997, with excellent disclosure providing the foundation for more patents covering a wide variety of ventricular and valvular shape change methodologies, including surgical and interventional approaches.
“By strategically leveraging early patent filings, we are successfully creating a deep intellectual property portfolio covering shape-change therapies and methods for treating congestive heart failure and mitral valve disease,” said Brian O’Connell, president and CEO of Myocor.
* Provided for informational purposes only. Reference should be made to the issued patent to understand the scope of the patent claims.
Coapsys** Device For Treating Mitral Valve Less Invasively Now Implanted In 50 Patients
In related news, Myocor announced that more than 50 patients have now been successfully implanted with the Coapsys device. The Coapsys technology is designed to geometrically reshape the mitral valve and to improve valve function using a less invasive approach compared to current therapies. The Coapsys device is implanted on a closed, beating heart without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (stopping the heart).
The company has completed the TRACE (Treatment of Functional Mitral Regurgitation without Atriotomy or Cardiopulmonary Bypass Clinical Evaluation) feasibility study conducted outside the United States with 34 patients implanted. The three-month results of the TRACE study were presented at the 2004 American College of Cardiology meeting in March. The 12-month data is currently being collected and analyzed.
Myocor also is sponsoring the RESTOR-MV (Randomized Evaluation of a Surgical Treatment for Off-Pump Repair of the Mitral Valve) study, a multi-center, prospective, randomized clinical trial which has enrolled 40 patients to-date in the United States. The RESTOR-MV trial will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Coapsys device in treating patients with mild, moderate or severe mitral valve regurgitation who are undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
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About Myocor, Inc.
Myocor, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures less invasive, implantable devices that utilize shape change technology to treat cardiac diseases such as mitral valve insufficiency and congestive heart failure. Myocor is privately held and based in Maple Grove, Minn. For more information, visit www.myocor.com.
POSTED: MAY 13, 2004
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