Avastra files for new BioWeld patent

Sydney-based Avastra (ASX:AVS) has filed a provisional patent on the use of its BioWeld technology in conjunction with surgical glues and adhesives.

Avastra's BioWeld technology joins arteries and veins using a protein solder and has previously used laser light to activate the join.

Avastra has completed two studies to test for patency (free blood flow) in rats following the rejoining of their aortas using BioWeld Tubes with surgical glues. The one week study showed 20 out of 20 rates having successful anastomoses (rejoining) of the aorta and 11 out of 12 were successful in the second study at six weeks. Mean burst pressures were better than achieved with BioWeld using lasers at one week and equivalent at six weeks. Minimal vessel damage was found due to cytotoxicity in any of the animals from glue.

Additional animal studies using surgical glues are underway in both rats and sheep as part of Avastra's development of the BioWeld ETS (end to side) device for joining blood vessels in cardio-vascular procedures.

Avastra recently abandoned the clinical trials of its BioWeld Tube, which were initially halted in June, following unexpected results in an existing long-term animal study.