ATLANTA, June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CryoLife, Inc. , announced today that it has now received tissue from over 85,000 individual donors of organs or tissues since its founding in 1984. Tissue from the 85,000th donor was received on June 16, 2006 from an organ and tissue procurement organization based in Utah.
Through the generosity of donor families and with the support of the organ and tissue procurement organizations, CryoLife has been able to provide more than 140,000 cryopreserved cardiac, vascular and orthopedic tissues for transplant.
More than 40 percent of the cardiac tissue preserved by CryoLife is implanted into children, for whom the availability of cryopreserved allograft tissue has historically provided the best chance for a normal, active lifestyle. Cryopreserved allograft vascular tissues have enabled patients with impaired circulatory systems to avoid lower limb amputations. Cryopreserved allograft orthopedic tissues have helped patients with knee injuries to return to and enjoy a more normal active lifestyle.
Steven G. Anderson, President and CEO of CryoLife stated, “The kindness and selflessness of donors and their families have enabled CryoLife to provide life-saving and life-enhancing tissues to thousands of patients. We are grateful to the many people who register as organ and tissue donors, and to the families who have expressed tremendous generosity during times of personal tragedy.”
CryoLife encourages everyone to support their local organ or tissue procurement organizations and health care professionals in their efforts to provide increased awareness of organ and tissue donation options. For additional information about organ donation, contact your local organ or tissue procurement organization or the American Association of Tissue Banks at www.aatb.org.
About CryoLife
Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is a leader in the processing and distribution of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiovascular, vascular, and orthopaedic surgeries throughout the United States and Canada. The Company’s BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels and is CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada for use in soft tissue repair and approved in Australia for use in vascular and pulmonary sealing and repair. The Company also distributes the CryoLife- O’Brien(R) stentless porcine heart valve and the SG Model #100 vascular graft, which are CE marked for distribution within the European Community.
For additional information about the Company, visit CryoLife’s Web Site: http://www.cryolife.com Media Contacts: D. Ashley Lee Katie Brazel Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Fleishman Hillard Officer and Chief Operating Officer Phone: 404-739-0150 Phone: 770-419-3355
CryoLife, Inc.
CONTACT: D. Ashley Lee, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officerand Chief Operating Officer of CryoLife, Inc., +1-770-419-3355; or KatieBrazel of Fleishman Hillard, +1-404-739-0150