ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) today announced European CE Mark approval and the European launch of the TigerWire™ Steerable Guidewire. The announcement was made in Barcelona, Spain, at EuroPCR 2008, a premiere scientific and professional event for cardiologists, vascular surgeons and other medical specialists who perform interventional procedures such as angioplasty and stenting to treat cardiovascular diseases.
The newest member of the St. Jude Medical GuideRight™ family of steerable guidewires, the TigerWire Steerable Guidewire is designed to enhance physicians’ ability to steer through challenging peripheral arteries, the vessels that supply blood to the legs and arms.
A guidewire is a thin, flexible wire that physicians use to help guide and steer a catheter (a flexible tube). The insertion of a guidewire is a first step in diagnostic and interventional procedures in which physicians thread catheters through the arteries to diagnose the severity of disease or deliver treatments, including devices such as stents that open blockages and restore blood flow.
The TigerWire Guidewire’s tip is designed with enhanced flexibility to aid in navigation through the vessels. Its supportive design provides distinct zones of flexibility that make it easier for physicians to track and position the guidewire through challenging anatomy.
“As physicians treat more complex peripheral cases, the need for versatile wires has grown. The TigerWire Steerable Guidewire has been engineered for improved steerability and support,” said Denis Gestin, president of the St. Jude Medical International Division. “It gives physicians a tool with enhanced tactile feel which allows them to access difficult-to-reach vessels when performing complex diagnostic and interventional procedures.”
St. Jude Medical announced the U.S. launch of the TigerWire Steerable Guidewire in April 2008. Feedback from physician customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
About St. Jude Medical
St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., St. Jude Medical employs more than 12,000 people worldwide and has five major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, cardiology and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit www.sjm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings, and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management’s current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company’s control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2008. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance. Contacts
St. Jude Medical, Inc. Investor Relations Angela Craig, 651-481-7789 or Media Relations Kathleen Janasz, 651-415-7042 At A Glance St. Jude Medical, Inc. Headquarters: St. Paul, Minnesota Website: http://www.sjm.com CEO: Dan Starks Employees: Approximately 12,000 Ticker: STJ (NYSE) Revenues: $3.779 Billion (2007) Net Income: $559 Million (2007) Source: via Business Wire Updated 01/24/2008 by company
