Dr. Bernet and her colleagues reviewed and compared their experience with 601 ATS Medical Open Pivot Heart Valves (ATS) and 604 St. Jude Medical (SJM) valves implanted beginning in 1993. They reported similar overall survival and valve related mortality at 10 years for both patient cohorts even though there were considerably more ATS mitral valve replacements (168/67), where morbidity and mortality is expected to be higher. In the aortic group only, the authors reported significant improvement in actuarial survival at 10 years for those who received ATS (80%) compared to SJM (64%) leading them to conclude, "Based on the present results, it can be assumed that ATS valves would yield a better outcome in the aortic position." In the mitral position, actuarial survival at 5 years for ATS (80%) showed a significant improvement when compared to SJM (74%).
Michael Dale, President and CEO of ATS noted, "Our Open Pivot heart valve incorporates evolutionary design concepts with the intent of improving patient care and quality of life. Long term data, particularly well controlled comparisons such as this study from the University of Basel, are important contributions that can help us delineate the benefits of our valve and carry that message to surgeons and patients."
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. More than 135,000, which utilize a unique pivot design resulting in exceptional performance and low risk profile, have been implanted in patients worldwide. The ATS 3F 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® 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 timing of regulatory approvals, 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, 2006.
Contacts: Michael Dale, President/CEO Investors: 763-553-7736 Jennifer Beugelmans, 646-201-5447 Michael Kramer, Doug Sherk, 415-896-6820 Senior Director of Finance Steve DiMattia, 646-201-5445 (Media) 763-557-2222
Source: ATS Medical, Inc.
