04-06-2025
Hyderabad cardiologist gets US patent for multi-functional cardiac occluder
File photo: Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti
HYDERABAD: An innovative device that can fix various types of cardiac defects, designed by Hyderabad-based Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti, who heads the Cardiology Division at Rainbow Children's Heart Institute, has been granted a US patent.
Called KONAR-MF Occluder, the multi-functional device can close septal defects in children and adults. It is a double umbrella disc device made of nitinol, a biocompatible nickel and titanium alloy, and is stretchable up to 15 mm. It can treat various conditions, including ventricular septal defects, coronary arteriovenous fistulas, and paravalvular leaks. The device has already been patented in India, Europe (European Commission), Euro-African countries, and South Korea.
The multifunctional device not only fixes multiple types of cardiac lesions but also makes advanced cardiac care more affordable for patients in India, as it costs just Rs 50,000 in India compared to Rs 1.2 lakh in Pakistan and Rs 2.5–6 lakhs in other parts of Asia and Europe, said Dr Koneti.
Terming this as a proud moment for Indian science, Dr Koneti said: "This US patent validates that innovations from India can meet global standards.
It took us over six years to develop the device, and we applied for CE approval in 2018.'
He said the US patent now paves the way for a US FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approval for the device, which has already been implanted in about 10-15 patients in the US on compassionate grounds. "But we can also do clinical trials in the US if required," said Dr Koneti, who is a paediatric interventional cardiologist.
He pointed out that the device has already demonstrated its safety and efficacy through over 20 peer-reviewed studies, and over 10,000 of these devices have already been implanted in patients in over 90 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa since the device got CE approval in 2018. The device is manufactured by LifeTech Scientific of China.
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