MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATS Medical, Inc. is looking forward to its participation in the 44th Annual Meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). The event runs January 28-30, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and serves as one of the year's key gatherings of cardiovascular surgeons from around the world.
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ATS Medical continues to broaden its exposure and relationships within the cardiac surgery community and the STS meeting provides an excellent opportunity to display the progress made in assembling an array of product offerings focused on meeting the evolving needs of cardiac surgeons. Featured products will include the company's flagship ATS Open Pivot(R) Heart Valve and our latest advancement, the ATS Open Pivot(R) AP360(TM). Recently approved in the US, the AP360 expands upon the fundamental strengths of the open pivot design by maximizing hemodynamic performance while incorporating a cuff design that will extend the valve's appeal to a broader spectrum of surgeon preferences.
ATS 3f(R) tissue heart valve products will be prominently featured. In-booth presentations on Monday, January 28th will include Dr. Richard Shemin, UCLA Medical Center, presenting a "Review of FDA Clinical Data with the ATS 3f(R) Aortic Bioprosthesis" and Professor Thierry Carrel, University Hospital of Berne, reporting on "Experience with the Sutureless ATS 3f Enable(TM) Aortic Bioprosthesis".
The ATS Simulus(R) annuloplasty product family, designed for the heart valve repair market segment, has expanded with the recent FDA approval of the ATS Simulus(R) Semi-Rigid Ring. This meeting will be the first market introduction of the semi rigid addition to the Simulus product line. The Simulus Semi Rigid ring includes the unique Flex-Zone(TM) anterior segment which respects the natural motion of the mitral annulus and its proximity to the aortic valve allowing for a safer, more physiologic valve repair.
Surgical treatment of cardiac arrhythmias continues to be a topic of great interest for surgeons and growing numbers find the ATS CryoMaze(TM) product line to be their therapy of choice. Dr. Harold Roberts, Florida Medical Center, will be presenting "CryoMaze Using Argon-Based Cryoablation is Highly Effective Therapy During Complex Valve Procedures" at the ATS booth on Tuesday, January 29th. In conjunction with East Carolina Heart Institute, ATS is sponsoring a scientific symposium focusing the treatment of atrial fibrillation, moderated by ATS Medical Director Dr. James L. Cox, and STS President Dr. W. Randolph Chitwood. Hands-on demonstrations of these market leading cryoablation technologies will be available at ATS Medical's booth #424.
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 145,000 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, 2006 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, both of ATS Medical, Inc.; or Investors, Jennifer
Beugelmans, +1-646-201-5447, or Doug Sherk, +1-415-896-6820, or Media,
Jennifer Saunders, +1-646-201-5431, all for ATS Medical, Inc.
Web site: http://www.atsmedical.com/
