Hyderabad Cardiologist earns US Patent for innovative heart device
Hyderabad: A Hyderabad-based Senior Consultant and Head of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti, at Rainbow Children's Heart Institute, has earned a United States patent for his breakthrough innovation, the KONAR-MF (Multifunctional) Occluder, a device designed to close septal defects in children and adults.
The US patent is a significant addition to a growing list of international recognitions for the KONAR-MF device, the hospital said in a release here.
It follows patents previously granted in India, Europe (EC), Euro-African countries and South Korea between 2021 and 2023.
The Indian patent, granted in February 2023, came after rigorous clinical and technical evaluation, reflecting the device’s merit and real-world utility.
The KONAR-MF occluder addresses a long-standing clinical gap by offering a single, adaptable solution to close a variety of defects, including Perimembranous and Muscular Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs); Residual post-surgical defects; Coronary arteriovenous fistulas; Selected aortopulmonary windows, Paravalvular leaks and systemic-to-pulmonary artery collaterals.
Unlike traditional occluders designed for a single-purpose use, the KONAR-MF adjusts dynamically to the shape and flow profile of each defect, allowing for more precise and safer deployment in diverse anatomical scenarios.
This design reduces the risk of complications and improves patient outcomes.
The KONAR-MF occluder is in use across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, with over 20 peer-reviewed studies confirming its safety and efficacy.
Manufactured by Lifetech Scientific, it is priced at just Rs 50,000 in India, compared to Rs 1.2 lakh in Pakistan and Rs 2.5–6 lakh in other parts of Asia and Europe. Its affordability makes it a critical tool in expanding access to care and reducing the burden of congenital heart disease, especially in low-resource settings.
By significantly lowering the cost of intervention and enabling broader access, particularly in resource-constrained settings, the KONAR-MF has the potential to reduce the disease burden of untreated congenital heart defects, which remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low- and middle-income countries.
Securing a US patent is a rigorous process involving extensive examination, validation of prior data, and review of existing devices and publications.
With over 20 published papers backing it, the KONAR device is now closer to obtaining FDA approval—enabling broader access across North America.
This milestone not only affirms its global safety and efficacy but also paves the way for compassionate use in critical cases.
Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti stated, “Receiving the US patent is a moment of great pride—not just for me, but for Indian science. It reaffirms that innovations designed in India can meet the highest global standards and serve patients worldwide. This recognition motivates continued work towards affordable, scalable solutions in pediatric care”, reports PTI.
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