SAN DIEGO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Edwards Lifesciences Corporation , the world leader in heart valve therapies, today launched a cardiovascular education program to prepare surgeons for future technology innovations. The ONE program, unveiled at The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) 43rd Annual Meeting, being held January 28-31 in San Diego, Calif., provides cardiac surgeons with exposure to innovative heart valve technologies, basic transcatheter training and education about the underserved heart valve patient population. At STS, Edwards will also introduce two new heart valve innovations, the Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT THEON aortic pericardial valve and the Edwards Myxo ETlogix annuloplasty ring.
Edwards' ONE Program a Surgeon Resource for Technology, Education and Growth
Edwards' ONE program is a resource to better prepare cardiovascular surgeons for new heart valve technologies and disease treatment options. Unique to the ONE program is awareness education where surgeons can learn more about the undertreatment of aortic stenosis (AS) in the U.S. It is estimated that for every patient who receives an aortic valve replacement, there is another who goes untreated, even though 50 percent of AS patients with severe symptoms will die within two years. Greater awareness of the disease and treatment options can help surgeons dramatically improve patient outcomes.
Another essential component of Edwards' ONE program is the Basic Endovascular Skills Training, or BEST(TM) course. This STS-endorsed curriculum is designed to provide surgeons with an intensive simulator-based learning experience for introductory guidewire, catheter and fluoroscopic imaging skills, utilizing the SimSuite(R) Education System.
"Today, it's more critical than ever that surgeons have access to training programs such as Edwards' Basic Endovascular Skills Training (BEST) to learn the necessary skills that enable them to deliver future technologies," said Frederick L. Grover, M.D., president of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. "We support Edwards' efforts to provide our members with this excellent opportunity to advance their skills."
New U.S. Launches Expand Aortic PERIMOUNT Valve and Mitral Repair Offerings
The Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT THEON aortic pericardial valve, the most recent expansion of Edwards' tissue valve platform, combines Edwards' ThermaFix advanced tissue process and more than 20 years of clinical experience and design features. Based on animal studies, the ThermaFix dual-action process reduces tissue calcification by up to 81 percent over standard controls. With the THEON valve, Edwards now has the most complete line of aortic tissue valves that offer surgeons proven durability, excellent hemodynamic performance and ease of implantation.
The newest addition to Edwards' comprehensive valve repair line, the Edwards Myxo ETlogix annuloplasty ring, is designed specifically to treat patients with myxomatous disease, a degenerative condition resulting in excess mitral valve leaflet tissue. Patients with this disease are often younger and their repair may be quite complex. They are frequently treated with mechanical valves, leading to lifelong anticoagulation therapy and its associated complications and lifestyle compromises. The Myxo ring offers surgeons a better option for these patients.
"The combination of the new Myxo ETlogix ring and widely practiced repair techniques makes even the most complex myxomatous repair cases more straight-forward and reproducible," said Dr. Patrick McCarthy, chief of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Division, co-director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern University, and a paid consultant to Edwards Lifesciences. "This should offer surgeons a preferable alternative to a mechanical valve which requires lifelong anticoagulation therapy."
About Edwards Lifesciences
Edwards Lifesciences, a leader in advanced cardiovascular disease treatments, is the number-one heart valve company in the world and the global leader in acute hemodynamic monitoring. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Edwards focuses on specific cardiovascular disease states including heart valve disease, peripheral vascular disease and critical care technologies. The company's global brands, which are sold in approximately 100 countries, include Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, FloTrac, Fogarty, LifeStent, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz. Additional company information can be found at http://www.edwards.com.
About Medical Simulation Corporation
Medical Simulation Corporation (MSC) is the recognized healthcare industry leader in providing full-service training and education services. Customers include medical product manufacturers, medical societies, and hospital personnel, including clinical specialists, sales representatives, physicians, nurses, and technicians. Through MSC's network of dedicated hospital-based SimSuite Education Centers and mobile training platforms, MSC can provide customized training services to any location in the U.S. to serve customers, clinical staff, and employees. For more information, please visit www.medsimulation.com.
Edwards, FloTrac, Myxo-ETLogix, PERIMOUNT Theon, and ThermaFix are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. Edwards Lifesciences, Carpentier-Edwards, Cosgrove-Edwards, Fogarty, PERIMOUNT Magna and Swan-Ganz are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation and are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office. LifeStent is a trademark of Edwards Lifesciences AG and is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
SimSuite is a registered trademark of Medical Simulation Corporation. BEST and BEST Program are trademarks of Medical Simulation Corporation.
Edwards Lifesciences CorporationCONTACT: Media, Jared B. Adams, +1-949-250-5070, or Investors, David K.Erickson, +1-949-250-6826, both of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
