Hyderabad cardiologist earns US patent for innovative heart occluder

Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti receives international recognition after being granted a US patent for his KONAR-MF heart occluder. The device is being adopted across continents and is improving treatment outcomes for patients with congenital heart defects

Hyderabad: Senior paediatric cardiologist and Head of the Division of Paediatric Cardiology at Rainbow Children’s Heart Institute, Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti, has been granted a United States patent for his innovation — the KONAR-MF (Multifunctional) Occluder, a device designed to close septal defects in both children and adults.

Heart occluders are commonly used to close abnormal openings or holes in the heart, often caused by congenital defects.

---

According to Dr Nageswara Rao, the KONAR-MF addresses a long-standing clinical gap by offering a single, adaptable solution to close a variety of heart defects.

“Unlike traditional occluders designed for 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,” he explained.

The KONAR-MF occluder is currently being used across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, with over 20 peer-reviewed studies validating its safety and efficacy. Manufactured by Lifetech Scientific, the device is priced at just Rs 50,000 in India.