Subscribe & Follow

Advertise your job vacancies

Jobs

Admin Assistant and Junior Production Coordinator Johannesburg
Technology Journalist Johannesburg
Lecturer Durban
Financial Manager Johannesburg
Head of Digital Enablement & Business Technology Johannesburg
Human Resources Manager Johannesburg
Junior Art Director Cape Town
Sales Team Leader Durban
Student Recruitment Advisor Durban
Senior PR Communications Strategist Johannesburg

Cheaper heart valve technology from Cape Town

The Bidvest Group and government's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) are investing a combined R30-million in a University of Cape Town (UCT) start-up company that is pioneering a way of replacing heart valves that doesn't require open-heart surgery.

By Claire Bisseker

17 Jul 2012

Southern Access Technologies Holdings (SATH) was founded by Prof Peter Zilla, the head of cardio-thoracic surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, and Prof David Williams, a world authority in medical engineering based in the United States.

They have, with the assistance of polymer technologist Deon Bezuidenhoudt, designed a polyurethane heart valve that is expected to sell for under $1 000 in developing countries, compared with current heart valve prostheses, which cost between $5 000-$30 000.

They have also invented a deployment device for the valve that does away with the need for open-heart surgery, making the procedure more accessible in poor countries.

With the additional funding (this is the second amount of R12-million invested by the TIA), SATH will develop its prototypes and test them in late 2013.

The new technology will add to the Western Cape's growing reputation as a biotech hub. "It also shows that SA can compete in the global arena when it comes to the manufacturing of medical devices," says the TIA's Sibongile Gumbi.

Source: Financial Mail via I-Net Bridge.

Source: I-Net Bridge

For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.

We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.

Go to: http://www.inet.co.za