Paget Milsom 

Dr F Paget Milsom is a leading New Zealand heart surgeon who developed a novel system (Dual Vent Circuit - DVC) to reduce the number of emboli (air bubbles and particles) released into the bloodstream after restarting the heart, following left heart-valve operations.

The principles of the DVC were tested and proved in surgery by Dr Milsom, using hand-crafted prototypes assembled from various medical fittings and materials.

The challenge to Adept was to turn the principles into a commercially viable and safe product.

Creating a reliable positive seal using a flexible membrane was achieved by incorporating a torpedo with identical peripheral length to the collapsed membrane tube.

The shapes of the valve body are derived from blood flow and turbulence considerations, minimal obstruction in surgery, and secure locking and sealing of the parts.

The body snaps together for ease of assembly.

Polycarbonate is used for visual clarity and sterilisation capability.

250,000 open-heart surgical operations are carried out worldwide each year.

Brain injury involving stroke or death occurs in about one in 20 and memory problems in one in two, which are mainly due to emboli in the circulation.

Initial studies show the DVC system reduces average emboli counts by a factor of 10.

Initial orders have been made by Auckland Hospital for surgical trials that will continue for a period of two years and some 1000 patients.

Trials will also be carried out at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City - both in the US.

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