MINNEAPOLIS, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Michael D. Dale, President and CEO of ATS Medical, Inc. today announced the appointment of Mr. W. Allen Putnam to the position of Vice President of Regulatory, Clinical and Quality, with responsibility managing these areas to accelerate the introduction of new technology into the market for ATS Medical.
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Mr. Putnam joins ATS with over 30 years of medical device experience including senior leadership positions with Urologix, Inc., Uroplasty, Inc., St. Jude Medical, Inc., BioVascular, Inc., and the former Baxter Travenol Laboratories. Mr. Putnam has specialized in establishing sound Regulatory, Clinical and Quality System initiatives in medical device businesses. He has supported the creation of numerous Quality Systems, successful Clinical Study designs and Regulatory Approvals in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan. His broad base of expertise has been invaluable in repeatedly leading emerging to large scale operations through the complex development, clinical and regulatory processes.
Said Mr. Dale, “With our pending acquisition of 3F Therapeutics, we are entering a phase where developing and implementing sound clinical trials and navigating government regulatory processes throughout the world is crucial to our long term success. Mr. Putnam brings a wealth of broad based expertise and leadership to our organization that will elevate our capabilities in this regard and insure that we are well positioned to meet the challenges that lie ahead. We are excited that Allen has chosen to join us and bring with him a resume of professionalism that will clearly benefit all of us who are interested in the continued growth of ATS Medical.”
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 100,000 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. 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, Surgi-Frost(R) and Frost-Byte(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 the ability of ATS Medical to market ATS Simulus(TM) annuloplasty products - cardiovascular implants, 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 to its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
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CONTACT: Michael Dale, President and CEO, +1-763-557-2224, or Jack Judd,CFO, +1-763-557-2222, both of ATS Medical, Inc.; Investors - Douglas Sherk,+1-415-652-9100, or Jennifer Beugelmans, +1-415-896-6820; Media - SteveDiMattia, +1-646-277-8706, or Sheryl Seapy, +1-949-608-0841
Web site: http://www.atsmedical.com/
