Research Industries Corp. of Salt Lake City said it will beginthis month final animal trials of its cardiovascular heparin-removal device system. The company (NASDAQ:REIC) plans tofile for an investigational device exemption with the Food andDrug Administration late this year or early next year.

Heparin, an anti-clotting agent, is used in most of the world's625,000 open heart surgeries each year to ensure that blooddoesn't clot in the life support circuits. After surgery, heparinmust be removed to prevent excessive bleeding. That iscurrently done by administering another drug, protaminesulfate. Research Industries' device utilizes a porousmembrane that selectively binds heparin molecules as thepatient's blood passes through the device.

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