ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, April 25, 1994                   TAG: 9404250117
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

IMPLANT MANUFACTURERS TO QUIT MAKING PRODUCTS

Some major manufacturers of materials used to make heart valves, artificial blood vessels and other implants have warned medical equipment companies that they will cut off supplies because they fear lawsuits, The New York Times reported today.

The new policies have not forced important products from the market, but implant companies are struggling to find other suppliers, the newspaper reported.

"We've approached more than 15 polyester makers in the United States and Europe, but the best response we've had so far has been a few people willing to give us samples to test with no commitment to supply," said Dennis Genito, vice president of product surveillance at Medox Medicals Inc., an Oakland, N.J., manufacturer of artificial blood vessels.

Doctors and industry executives said that the trend could end up making some implants hard to get and devastate the development of new implants.

- Associated Press 


 by CNB