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Biophan Scientists Publish Landmark Study Validating Technology to Enhance Safety and Compatibility of Implanted Medical Devices With Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Posted on: Wednesday, 16 November 2005, 09:00 CST

Research Indicates Methods to Substantially Improve the Safety of Implanted Leads

Biophan Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: BIPH; FWB: BTN), a developer of next-generation medical technology, today announced the publication of an important new scientific paper co-authored by Robert W. Gray and W. Timothy Bibens, members of Biophan's research staff, and a third author, Dr. Frank G. Shellock of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. This paper describes a novel, cutting-edge scientific solution to an important patient safety issue.

The recent scientific findings described in the article show that relatively minor manufacturing design modifications made to implanted medical device leads can substantially decrease MRI-induced heating risks. Appearing in the current issue of MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, the tested alternative could have significant implications for improving patient safety related to MRI-induced heating of leads in medical implants. Biophan has developed a portfolio of proprietary solutions consistent with the authors' findings, to eliminate heating risks.

"In general, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered to be an extremely safe diagnostic modality," the article notes. "However, under certain conditions, patients with electrically conducting implants may be seriously injured during MRI due to the generation of excessive heat. This is particularly problematic for implants that have leads (e.g., spinal fusion stimulators, cardiac pacemakers, and neurostimulation systems), since MRI-induced heating tends to occur in extended wires that form resonant antennae."

MRI's electromagnetic environment can create safety problems in a wide range of medical devices. In some of the most dramatic cases, MRI's electromagnetic fields can cause the devices to heat or create induced voltages, or to malfunction, potentially causing serious harm to patients. In light of those accidents, the article notes, "It is obvious that there is a critical need for a means of reducing MRI-induced heating for implanted leads used with medical devices." The authors propose as an acceptable and practical answer, the development of leads "that inherently minimize heating."

Based on their research, the authors conclude that "Minor modifications to a wire form greatly reduce MRI-related heating. Because these modifications change the wire form's basic electrical characteristics, it is expected that similar results (i.e., reduction in MRI-induced heating) will apply to longer leads and to other physiological positions of lead wires. As such, these findings have important implications for implanted leads used in medical devices."

About the Journal

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING is the first international multidisciplinary journal encompassing physical, life, and clinical science investigations as they relate to the development and use of magnetic resonance imaging. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING is dedicated to both basic research and medical applications, providing a single forum for communication among radiologists, physicists, chemists, biochemists, biologists, engineers, internists, pathologists, physiologists, computer scientists, mathematicians, and physicians with other special interests in clinical and research developments.

About Biophan Technologies

Biophan develops and markets a broad spectrum of next-generation technologies and products with commercial applications in a variety of multibillion-dollar healthcare market segments. Committed to growth through innovation and developmental leadership, Biophan and its licensors now hold a total of 156 U.S. patents, licenses, and applications. This extensive intellectual property portfolio includes nanotechnology-based and other approaches to create enhancements for several medical products. Biophan's technology portfolio includes solutions developed to enable implanted medical systems such as pacemakers, interventional surgical devices such as catheters and guidewires, and implants such as stents to be safely and effectively imaged by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems. Biophan is developing these same technologies to enable new MRI contrast agents. Other applications include drug delivery and power systems which derive energy from body heat. Biophan's intellectual property portfolio now includes 42 issued U.S. patents, 8 recently-allowed applications that will issue as patents in the near future, and 106 pending applications at various stages of examination at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, plus international applications. The patents cover areas including nanotechnology, medical device designs, radio frequency filters, thermoelectric materials and optical catheter technologies. Biophan has joint development and licensing agreements with Boston Scientific and NASA's Ames Center for Nanotechnology. Biophan's goal is to make all biomedical devices capable of safely and effectively working with MRI, and to deliver other technologies which will improve the delivery of healthcare. Biophan is also listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BTN." For more information, please visit www.biophan.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements reflect what Biophan anticipates, expects, or believes may happen in the future. Biophan's actual results could differ materially from the outcome or circumstance expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors including, but not limited to: Biophan's ability to develop its technologies; the approval of Biophan's patent applications; the successful implementation of Biophan's research and development programs; the ability of Biophan to demonstrate the effectiveness of its technology; the acceptance by the market of Biophan's technology and products incorporating such technology, the ability of Biophan to effectively negotiate and enter into contracts with medical device manufacturers for the licensing of Biophan's technology; competition; the ability of Biophan to raise capital to fund its operating and research and development activities until it generates revenues sufficient to do so; and the timing of projects and trends in future operating performance, as well as other factors expressed from time to time in Biophan's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). As a result, this press release should be read in conjunction with Biophan's periodic filings with the SEC which are incorporated herein by reference. The forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and Biophan undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

Source: Business Wire

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