Andrew Heaton, MD, has been named vice president and chief of operations for of Chiron's (Emeryville, California) blood testing business. From 1993 to 1999, Heaton was the president and chief executive officer of Blood Centers of the Pacific. In 1999, he facilitated the merger between Blood Centers of the Pacific and Blood Systems, and became the merged company's chief medical officer. He also was the president of Blood Systems Foundation, which provides support for Blood Systems' research.

Richard Fischer has resigned as chief financial officer of EndoSonics (Rancho Cordova), citing family considerations. Kathleen Redd, the company's controller, will serve as acting chief financial officer until a replacement is named, the company said. EndoSonics develops, manufactures and markets intravascular ultrasound imaging products and products to assist in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease.

Timothy Surgenor has been named executive vice president of Haemonetics (Braintree, Massachusetts), effective Jan. 31. Most recently, Surgenor was president of Genzyme's Tissue Repair Division.

Brian McDonough has been named president of the North American Blood Products business of Pall (East Hills, New York). McDonough joins Pall after more than 25 years with the American Red Cross, where he most recently served as chief operating officer. Additionally, Roberto Perez has been named president of Pall's Medical Products Manufacturing Group and a company vice president. Previously, Perez was corporate vice president and president of Baxter International's Fenwal division. Pall specializes in the production of blood processing products.

Mark Tauscher has been appointed president, CEO and a director at PLC Systems (Franklin, Massachusetts), a developer of technology for transmyocardial revascularization of the heart. Most recently, he was executive vice president of sales and marketing at Quinton.

Acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Commissioner Todd Dickinson has been named PTO commissioner and was sworn in recently by U.S. Commerce Secretary William Daley. Dickinson had been serving as acting PTO director since former commissioner Bruce Lehman stepped down at the end of 1998.

Will Sutton has been named vice president of research and development at Vascular Solutions (Minneapolis, Minnesota), and Jerry Johnson has been named the company's chief financial officer. Additionally, Rick Buchholz was promoted to the post of treasurer and director of finance. Sutton previously was director of R&D for Urologix. Johnson previously was a managing director in charge of health care corporate finance at John G. Kinnard & Co. Vascular Solutions manufactures and sells a device designed to allow cardiologists and radiologists to rapidly seal the arterial puncture site following catheterization procedures.

D. Michael Deignan has been named president and CEO of Vasomedical (Westbury, New York) and named to the company's board. He replaces Anthony Viscusi, who is retiring but will remain on the company's board and becomes chairman of its executive committee. Prior to joining Vasomedical, Deignan was president and CEO of Medical Sterilization. Vasomedical manufactures, markets and supports external counterpulsation systems.

World Heart (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) has realigned the executive responsibilities of Dr. Tofy Mussivand and Roderick Bryden. Mussivand has been appointed chairman and chief scientific officer and Bryden has been named president and continues as chief executive officer. World Heart said in a statement that the change in roles reflects the evolution of the company. "Commencement of production and clinical trials of the HeartSaver VAD [ventricular assist device] this year and preparations for commercial sales of the device next year will significantly increase the operating demands" within the company, the statement said. And, "the introduction of the HeartSaver to leading clinicians and scientists around the world, and development of next-generation technologies and products, requires the dedicated attention of the corporation's leading scientist."