Innovative cardiac valve prosthesis developed at Sheba
Business Briefs by Ronny Linder-Ganz

Prof. Ehud Schwammental, the inventor behind Ventor Technology's innovative cardiac valve prosthesis that has attracted the attention of medical instruments giant Medtronics, will have to pay the Sheba Medical Center 30% of the profit he stands to make on the sale of the startup, as may his brother Daniel, who is also a shareholder in the company. With Medtronics' bid for the four-year-old company standing at $325 million, the hospital could come into some $20 million. Sheba's claim to part of the profit is based on the fact that Schwammental, who heads the cardiac rehabilitation institute at the hospital, developed the valve while in the state hospital's employ. The agreement was reached following negotiations with Finance Ministry Accountant General Shuki Oren and the hospital's director, Prof. Zeev Rotstein.