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Five patents were in-process, animal bio-compatibility studies were complete, and IDE (Investigational Device Exemption) application materials were prepared when management decided to shelve this project. John Frederickson, M.D., and Robert Bastian, M.D. of Washington University school of medicine, collaborators on this work, were unable to convince Medtronic to negotiate with other biomedical firms to manufacture systems for first human trasplant. Frederickson and Bastian were left to deliver the bad news to patients already enrolled for the IDE study. Beckmann & Robert Neumann were left with little to show for the 2 year effort. Patents were never pursued and, to date, no implantable electrolaryngeal system has ever been marketed by any biomedical firm.
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