MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATS Medical, Inc. today announced that it has received a Notice of Allowance from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a key patent application on its anti- coagulation and demineralization of conductive medical devices technology. It is expected that this patent will issue in early 2007.
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The ATS technology is used to treat implantable medical devices to minimize blood/platelet interaction with the device. Significantly, this may enable the reduction or elimination of current long term anti-coagulant or anti-platelet therapies. These medical treatments are intolerable in some patient populations which may exclude them from receiving the best treatment options.
On a related subject, ATS has broadly expanded its intellectual property portfolio with the recent acquisition of 3F Therapeutics Inc. The Company now possesses foundational and platform technologies that cover bioprosthetic heart valves, their delivery and the treatment of related valvular diseases. The minimally invasive and percutaneous valve delivery technologies provide a variety of new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of patients suffering from heart valve disease including many who are not candidates for current surgical interventions.
Commenting on these events, President and CEO Michael Dale noted, “Our research and development staff has devoted considerable time and energy to the pursuit of anti-thrombogenic technologies. We are very pleased to add this novel process to our IP portfolio and are excited about the possibilities it represents to advance the standard of care for physicians and patients. The ability to provide unique treatments for vascular implants is a cornerstone for our future. While internal R&D is one avenue to a strong future, we have also been active in building IP that places us on the forefront of developing heart valve therapies through our recently announced acquisition. ATS 3f technology is highly complimentary to our existing product, process and infrastructure competencies. Through development, acquisition and/or licensing, we are now in possession of many ground breaking technologies, and are well positioned to capitalize on the key assets we have created and accumulated. We are strictly focused on ensuring that these inventions and investments in our future are aggressively protected and leveraged in ways that benefit all who share an interest in ATS Medical.”
About ATS Medical
ATS Medical, Inc. provides innovative products and services focused on cardiac surgery. The company, global in scope, has been headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota since its founding in 1991. More than 130,000 ATS Open Pivot(R) Heart Valves, which utilize a unique pivot design resulting in exceptional performance and low risk profile, have been implanted in patients worldwide. The ATS 3F(R) brand encompasses multiple tissue heart valve product offerings at varying steps from market introductions to clinical trials to development projects that incorporate less invasive valve replacement technology. ATS Medical’s focus on cardiac surgery is further strengthened by offerings that include ATS Simulus(TM) annuloplasty products for heart valve repair, SurgiFrost(R) and FrostByte(TM) products for surgical cryoablation of cardiac arrhythmias, RTI-Cardiovascular for allograft tissue services, 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 the results of clinical trials, the integration of 3F Therapeutics, 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, and its Form S-4 Registration Statement, as amended, filed with respect to the merger with 3F Therapeutics.
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CONTACT: Michael Dale, President - CEO, +1-763-553-7736, or MichaelKramer, Senior Director of Finance, +1-763-557-2222, both of ATS Medical,Inc.; or Investors, Jennifer Beugelmans, +1-646-201-5447, or Doug Sherk,+1-415-896-6820, or Steve DiMattia, +1-646-201-5445 (Media), all of EVCGroup, Inc.
Web site: http://www.atsmedical.com/
