MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATS Medical, Inc. , manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products and services, today reported the US launch and first clinical uses of the ATS CryoMaze(TM) Surgical Ablation Clamp.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040202/ATSILOGO)
The launch of this product marks the first ablation product development effort by ATS since the product line was acquired from CryoCath Technologies. The ATS CryoMaze Clamp is similar in clinical use to other ablation clamps on the market; however, it is unique in that it uses argon-based cryoablation to create lesions rather than heat-based RF energy. The benefit of this ablation clamp over competitive devices is a unique ablation window that allows the surgeon to visually confirm complete freezing of the targeted tissue, providing confidence that the lesion has fully penetrated the tissue. The ablation window was developed by James L. Cox, MD, ATS Medical Director and a team of ATS engineers. Early prototype testing and evaluation was performed with the assistance of Evelio Rodriguez, MD of East Carolina University, who has also used the clamp in clinical practice.
“Some other ablation clamps must be applied multiple times and then tested to see if they work,” said Dr. Rodriguez. “But with the ATS CryoMaze Clamp, you apply it once and, because you can see the frost coming through, you know that it worked with a single application.”
The Company’s ablation treatments have been predominantly performed as part of concomitant open-heart procedures. ATS anticipates the ATS CryoMaze Clamp will greatly expand its use in concomitant ablation during closed-heart procedures.
“Our success bringing the ATS CryoMaze Clamp into the marketplace underscores ATS Medical’s innovative approach, focus on execution, and commitment to Advancing the Standard with devices and tools for the cardiac surgeon,” commented Michael Dale, President and Chief Executive Officer of ATS Medical, Inc.
About ATS Medical
ATS Medical, Inc. provides innovative products and services focused on cardiac surgery. The Company, global in scope, is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. More than 160,000 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 serving the cardiac surgery community is further strengthened by offerings that include ATS Simulus(R) annuloplasty products for heart valve repair and ATS CryoMaze(TM) surgical ablation products. 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 timing of regulatory approvals, the integration of 3f Therapeutics and the surgical cryoablation business of CryoCath Technologies, Inc., 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, 2007 and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: Michael Dale, President|CEO, +1-763-553-7736, or Michael Kramer,
CFO, +1-763-557-2222, or Investors, Doug Sherk|Jenifer Kirtland,
+1-415-896-6820, or Media, Steve DiMattia, +1-646-201-5445, all of ATS
Medical, Inc.
Web site: http://www.atsmedical.com/
