Key Blood Pump Technology Patent Granted to MedQuest® Products Inc.

August 21, 2002 ,SALT LAKE CITY —MedQuest Products Inc., was recently notified by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that a ‘bedrock’ patent for their HeartQuest™ VAD has been issued.

US Patent 6,394,769, “Pump Having A Magnetically Suspended Rotor With One Active Control Axis”, issued with 21 claims, and represents the blood pump design with which MedQuest is proceeding toward clinical trials.

This patent captures a number of design aspects that are extremely important for MedQuest to realize the vision of providing a 10 year-life implanted blood pump. The HeartQuest™ VAD will relieve the disabling symptoms of end-stage congestive heart failure for the over 100,000 patients that could benefit from left ventricular support. Extended pump life is the core product advancement necessary for further expansion of LVAD use.

Dr. Gill Bearnson, IP Manager and a Co-founder of MedQuest, believes that, “This patent covers a broad range of designs, encompassing the simplest possible configuration for a magnetically levitated rotary blood pump, which is to use only one active axis of control for the levitation system. We believe that the simplicity, compactness, and durability afforded by the design options covered by this patent will be very attractive to VAD patients and care providers. This patent is an important part of the foundation of our intellectual property portfolio”.

The HeartQuest™ System is expected to provide significant benefits over other blood pumps. These benefits are a 10 year-life, enhanced patient freedom, less traumatic and easier implantation, and providing flow rates that will serve the broadest patient population of any implantable pump. The benefits are derived from the simple, yet novel, application of magnetic levitation to blood pump design.

Magnetic levitation is the application of passive and active magnetic fields to suspend and control a titanium impellor that gently sweeps the blood through the pump augmenting the function of the patient’s left ventricle. By suspending the impeller in these magnetic fields, metal-on-metal contact areas (load bearings) and dependence on blood to provide lubrication and prevent such contact are eliminated. This dramatically reduces normal wear and tear on the pump giving it an extremely long life expectancy.


Company Background
MedQuest is a pioneer in the development of implantable ventricular assist devices (VADs). The HeartQuest™ VAD is an implantable, centrifugal pump that utilizes a magnetically suspended impeller to provide a frictionless, wear-free pumping action. A VAD boosts the output of a failing heart to normal levels. Congestive heart failure is the fastest growing segment of the cardiovascular disease market and is diagnosed in 550,000 Americans each year; over 200,000 deaths annually are attributed to congestive heart failure according to American Heart Association 2002 statistics .

MedQuest®, HeartQuest™, and MagLev™ are trademarks of MedQuest® Products Inc.