Biophan Signs Letter Of Intent For The Exclusive License To Breakthrough Technology For MRI Visualization Inside Implanted Vascular Stents
Dr. Bucker and Dr. Ruebben have published details of their research in various scientific journals, most recently in the medical journal "Circulation" (http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/105/15/1772). They have tested several prototypes of their Aachen resonance renal MRI stents and have reported on the technology's ability to enable artifact-free MRI Angiography and coronary vessel wall imaging within implanted stents. They have conducted their studies in both in vitro and in swine models. Biophan has signed a letter of intent to serve as exclusive worldwide licensor of the technology.
Together with the existing technology already held by Biophan, which was obtained through their recent acquisition of aMRIs GmbH, the letter of intent with Dr. Bucker and Dr. Ruebben will give Biophan licensing ownership to two of the most promising methods to create artifact-free images of stents and implants with MRI systems. "The synergies between our technologies could lead to really exciting new developments," commented Michael Friebe, PhD, CEO of Biophan Europe. "We are especially excited to add two renowned experts to our team, who are among the leading interventional MRI researchers in the world. We are confident that their expertise and experience will further improve Biophan's research and development programs."
Dr. Bucker, a clinical professor of radiology at the University of Aachen, is one of the leading experts in interventional MRI. The University of Aachen is a renowned clinical research institution and one of the leading radiology research centers in the world and is led by Prof. Rolf Gunther. Dr. Bucker and Dr. Ruebben will continue to work on further improving the stent as part of a consulting agreement with Biophan Europe.
"This letter of intent adds an important component of technology and expertise to the overall Biophan portfolio," said Michael Weiner, CEO of Biophan. "Drs. Bucker and Reubben are world renowned scientist/physicians conducting cutting-edge research in MRI diagnostics and innovative stent and medical device designs. The technology that will be licensed to Biophan, and will be available for sub-licensing by us to third parties, adds another viable means to creating MRI visible stents that can allow exquisite detail of restenosis and blockages, without the need for an interventional procedure, and eliminating the need to expose the patient to toxic dyes and ionizing radiation. The Aachen solution builds on the resonant circuit technologies we are already working on, and adds an exciting alloy metal for alternative stent designs. With the achievement of this working relationship, organized by Biophan Europe, we now offer a complete line of solutions for making MRI-visible stents, and will be in possession of all the known viable solutions that we are aware of. The only other approaches we know of for making an MRI visible stent require cutting the struts of the stent and gluing them back together, which is a solution that has not been well received due to the damage to stent structural integrity that may occur. Biophan is looking forward to working with its strategic partners to bring MRI visible stents to the marketplace."
Due to its excellent image quality, diagnostic accuracy and overall safety, MRI-based angiography is increasingly replacing diagnostic X-ray angiography for vascular imaging throughout the body. MRI angiography has not been able to visualize the interior of metallic stents, however, because current generations of stents - whether made of stainless steel or nitinol - do not allow visualization of the stent lumen and/or create image artifacts. Consequently, MRI has not been effective for diagnosing restenosis, one of the most serious medical problems for patients who have received implanted vascular stents. Biophan is a leading force in the development of technology to make medical devices imageable and safe in the environments of MRI systems.