what the big boys are doing., page-3

what next? patent squabble. The emergence of rival company Heartware seems to have Ventracor worried.

Today's Fin Review runs the header 'Heartware sets rival's blood pumping' and prints a denial that VCR is taking legal action against Heartware which is bringing a heart assist device onto the market.

VCR says ' however the company has always stated in every market presentation that it will aggressively defend its patents'.

More hokum. Who cares. The Heartware product looks less intrusive and aims at the same bridge to transplant field.

There's talk of derailing the float however Heartware is full speed ahead and will list with a market cap of $74m on the planned 20th January listing.

Meantime the use of VADs remains in the doldrums and the real market in the USA with the field leader is small enough for a small suburban hospital to cater for the whole global demand.

Ho hum