VasoStar, a subsidiary of Frantz Medical Group (FMG), has been awarded an Ohio Third Frontier grant to further develop and commercialize an electromagnetic guidewire system for penetrating through vascular chronic total occlusions, in lieu of invasive open heart surgery such as coronary artery bypass graft.

This $1 million grant, in addition to FMG's financial and engineering support, will allow VasoStar to complete development of and collect additional safety data for the guidewire and catheter system in preparation for FDA and CE regulatory submissions.

With the assistance of the Ohio Third Frontier grant, VasoStar will develop the first guidewire system that offers the clinician on-demand CTO-crossing assistance from the guidewire's embedded miniaturized electromagnetic engines. Product launch is targeted for 2013, according to the Mentor, Ohio-based developer and manufacturer of medical devices.