Healthcare Industry News:  drug-eluting stent  

Devices Interventional Cardiology

 News Release - October 30, 2008

Medtronic to Launch Coronary Stents and Balloon Catheters on Rapid Exchange in United States

Endeavor(R) drug-eluting stent Now Available on Rapid Exchange Delivery System

MINNEAPOLIS--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT ), announced today that it plans to launch its portfolio of angioplasty products in the United States on the rapid exchange (RX) delivery system, including the Endeavor® drug-eluting stent (DES), the Driver® and MicroDriver® bare-metal stents, and the NC (non-compliant) Sprinter® balloon catheter systems.


Used in angioplasty procedures to treat coronary artery disease, RX is a short-, single-wire delivery system that can be used by one operator. It is the preferred delivery system of approximately three-quarters of U.S. interventional cardiologists. Medtronic anticipates that access to RX will increase usage of its angioplasty products in the United States.

“RX is a prescription for greater success in cardiac catheterization laboratories nationwide going forward,” said Sean Salmon, vice president and general manager of the Coronary and Peripheral Vascular business at Medtronic. “Delivering the Endeavor stent on RX makes our flagship DES even more deliverable. Given the popularity of RX among physicians, patients with coronary artery disease across the country will soon be much more likely to receive the Endeavor stent, which has demonstrated both long-term safety and durable efficacy in extensive clinical research.”

ABOUT MEDTRONIC

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 25, 2008. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.


Source: Medtronic

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