Surgeons are already using a variety of solutions in surgical procedures involving the arrest of brain and heart function at temperatures between 15o and 25oC. However, current products limit the degree to which surgeons can lower a patient's temperature and the amount of time the patient can be maintained at a low body temperature. As a result, surgeons face severe time constraints in performing surgical procedures requiring blood flow interruption, and those time limitations prevent surgeons from correcting certain cardiovascular abnormalities. We are trying to provide surgeons with products that will give them the additional time needed to perform complex surgical procedures that require cardiac and circulatory arrest. This research also may lead to uses of HetaCool in hypothermic emergency medical procedures to treat patients who have suffered cardiac arrest, stroke, or major traumatic injury.
Dr. Letsou stated "We are most appreciative to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the opportunity to continue research that may lead to the development of surgical practices that will allow us to perform complex operations that have not been feasible before."
Dr. Hal Sternberg, BioTime's Vice-President of Research, said "BioTime and its collaborating surgeons have been working on these techniques for many years, with the goal of developing products for hypothermic surgery. We hope that this program will help us bring HetaCool closer to human clinical trials."
BioTime, headquartered in Berkeley, California develops blood plasma volume expanders, blood replacement solutions for hypothermic (low temperature) surgery, organ preservation solutions and technology for use in surgery, emergency trauma treatmen
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Contact: Judith Segall
jsegall@biotimemail.com
510-845-9535
BioTime, Inc.
27-Apr-2004