ATLANTA, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc., an Atlanta-based company dedicated to developing and delivering unique extracellular matrix (ECM Technology) biomaterial devices that harness the body’s innate ability to repair damaged cardiovascular tissue, announced today that it has begun its expansion in Europe following the first use of the CorMatrix(R) ECM Technology(TM) in a patient undergoing cardiac surgery.
The first device implanted in Europe was completed by Professor Stephan Jacobs, M.D., and Professor Volkmar Falk, M.D., both of University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland, who utilized the CorMatrix ECM Technology to close the pericardium of a 70-year-old patient following triple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
“We are pleased with the ease of use of the CorMatrix ECM(TM) and welcome this technology into our surgical protocol,” commented Dr. Jacobs. “This is an advancement in cardiac surgery to restore the patient’s normal anatomical structures, which we believe is in the patient’s best interest.”
“Closure of the pericardium is beneficial as it restores the natural barrier between the heart and the chest wall; it protects the heart, underlying grafts that were applied to the heart, and makes it easier and safer to re-access the heart if a subsequent procedure is required,” said Robert G. Matheny, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer of CorMatrix Cardiovascular.
Following implantation by a surgeon, the CorMatrix ECM Technology acts as a scaffold into which the patient’s own cells migrate and integrate, stimulating the body’s innate wound-healing mechanisms to repair tissue at the site of implantation. As the patient’s cells populate the matrix, they lay down their own collagen, which matures over time to form a functional tissue repair. The implanted ECM(TM) material is gradually replaced and reabsorbed by the body as the patient’s tissue is remodeled.
“Our European launch further validates the increasing interest and acceptance that our ECM Technology continues to receive among the clinical community. Because our ECM Technology supports native tissue repair, it represents a significant advancement over currently available materials,” said Beecher Lewis, President and Chief Operating Officer of CorMatrix Cardiovascular. “We are pleased to have achieved this important milestone and plan to continue to lead the way toward other significant advancements for cardiac surgeons and their patients.”
The use of extracellular matrix technology in non-cardiovascular applications has established a significant foothold with over 500,000 procedures performed to date in soft tissue repair, wound management and orthopedic applications. Since the launch of the CorMatrix(R) ECM(TM) for Pericardial Closure, the technology has been used at more than 220 hospitals across the U.S. and has been implanted in more than 10,000 cardiac procedures.
About CorMatrix(R) ECM Technology(TM)
CorMatrix Cardiovascular holds an exclusive license from Purdue University to research, develop, manufacture and market naturally occurring ECM(TM) products for cardiovascular applications. The company currently has U.S. clearance and European approval with a CE Mark for its ECM Technology as an implant for pericardial closure, and clearance in the U.S. for use in cardiac tissue repair.
About CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc.
CorMatrix Cardiovascular, a privately held company based in Atlanta, Georgia, is dedicated to developing and delivering innovative cardiovascular devices that harness the body’s own innate ability to remodel damaged tissue. For more information, visit www.cormatrix.com.
CONTACT: Becky Soja of WeissComm Partners, +1-415-946-1080,
Bsoja@wcpglobal.com, for CorMatrix Cardiovascular, Inc.
Web site: http://www.cormatrix.com/