Healthcare Industry News: Annuloplasty Ring
News Release - September 11, 2006
ATS Open Pivot(R) AP360(TM) Heart Valve Is Introduced at EACTS/ESTS Joint Meeting
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- ATS Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI ) -- The new ATS Open Pivot® AP360(TM) Heart Valve is being introduced at the joint meeting of the European Association for Cardio- Thoracic Surgeons (EACTS) and European Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (ESTS) September 9-13, 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden. The EACTS/ESTS introduction follows recent CE approval for the ATS Open Pivot AP360 Heart Valve.ATS Medical President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Michael D. Dale said: "Surgeons have highly individualized and specific preferences regarding valve selection criteria, particularly with respect to implantability. With the ATS Open Pivot AP360 Heart Valve, we have expanded on the fundamental strengths of the Open Pivot design. We have maximized hemodynamic performance while creating a cuff design that will extend our appeal to a broader spectrum of surgeons. We are excited and honored to be able to introduce the ATS Open Pivot AP360 Heart Valve to EACTS/ESTS joint meeting attendees as another step in our plan to bring Open Pivot design and performance to a worldwide audience."
The EACTS Techno College, conducted just prior to the annual meeting, focused on leading edge technology in cardiac surgery. A live implant of the 3F Therapeutics Model 1000 valve featuring a newly designed holder/delivery system was broadcast as part of the program. This new system allows the Model 1000 valve to be implanted in a similar manner as a stented tissue valve while maintaining the exceptional performance characteristics of a stentless valve. Mr. Ravi Pillai from Oxford University performed the surgery. ATS Medical is the exclusive distributor for 3F Therapeutics in Europe and the Model 1000 valve is being featured as part of the exhibition.
ATS Medical is also introducing the Simulus(TM) flexible Annuloplasty Ring and band to the international cardiac surgery community at this meeting. The Simulus line of annuloplasty products is being increasingly adopted for use in mitral repair procedures in the U.S. The ATS exhibition includes demonstrations on the use of SurgiFrost® probes and FrostByte(TM) clamps for the surgical ablation of cardiac arrhythmias.
About ATS Medical
ATS Medical, Inc. manufactures and markets products and services focused on cardiac surgery. The company, global in scope, has been headquartered in Minneapolis since its founding in 1991. More than 130,000 ATS Open Pivot® Heart Valves, which utilize a unique pivot design resulting in exceptional performance and low risk profile, have been implanted in patients worldwide. ATS Medical's focus on serving the cardiac surgery community is further strengthened by offerings that include ATS Simulus(TM) annuloplasty products for heart valve repair, SurgiFrost® and FrostByte(TM) products for surgical cryoablation of cardiac arrhythmias, RTI-Cardiovascular for allograft tissue services, QAS home monitoring services for anticoagulation therapy and the development of PARSUS blood filtration technology. The ATS Medical web site is http://www.atsmedical.com.
Safe Harbor
This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that may include statements regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including regulatory actions, competition, pricing pressures, supplier actions and management of growth. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's activities and results, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, as amended.
Source: ATS Medical
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