SCTMI developing MRI compatible heart valve

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (UNI) The Sree Chitra Thirunal Medical Institute (SCTMI) here is in the process of developing an M R I compatible heart valve, its Director K Mohandas said.

Delivering the keynote address at the Inter-Media Publicity Coordination Committee (IMPCC) meeting of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting here, yesterday he disclosed that clinical trials of the innovative valve would begin next month.

Dr Mohandas said that by 2020, 50 per cent of the requirements of the Indian medical devices industry would be met by indigenous production and for this, the Biomedical Technology Wing of the Institute would be adequately strengthened.

Since its inception, SCTMI had filed 107 patents, of which 62 technologies had already been developed and 21 technology transfers had been effected, he added.

He said that for diseases causing movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease, deep brain stimulation technique had proved to be effective and the Institute was one of the few instititions in the country providing this treatment.

UNI