Cook Medical Names Barry Thomas Vice President, Aortic Intervention.

Also Names Executive to Support Its Rapidly Growing Asian Sales and Marketing Effort

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Barry Thomas, who has served as global leader of Cook Medical's Aortic Intervention strategic business unit since 2003, has been promoted to vice president of that division, Cook President Kem Hawkins announced today.

In addition, with sales of its interventional medical devices surging in Japan and Asian markets such as China, Taiwan and Korea, Cook Medical acted to capitalize on this emerging opportunity by appointing Thomas, who has broad Asian business experience, to help focus and support business efforts for all eight Cook strategic business units in the region.

"As vice president of Cook's Aortic Intervention unit, my goal will be to continue to support the outstanding effort put forth by everyone in this division that has led to Cook's Zenith AAA endograft becoming the number one selling device of its kind in the world," Thomas said of his promotion. "It takes a team of exceptionally talented, dedicated people to make that happen, and our future efforts will focus on further refining this revolutionary medical technology to bring the benefits of endovascular aortic repair to patients who currently do not have access to its proven benefits."

In addition to naming him vice president, Hawkins also asked Thomas to facilitate Cook's Asian Strategic Markets Initiative effective immediately. Thomas, with more than two decades of sales and marketing experience throughout the Asian and Pan-Pacific business regions, will focus on getting Cook's advanced medical devices approved for sale as quickly as possible throughout Asia and supporting a dynamic marketing and sales approach aimed at ensuring the widest possible adoption of Cook's leading-edge medical technologies by Asian physicians and medical institutions.

"Barry has proven himself a tireless proponent of Cook technology and a valued executive capable of managing the global operations of one of our largest and fastest-growing divisions," Hawkins said. "I am very pleased to promote him to vice president, and have the utmost confidence in his ability to support our long-term sales and marketing initiatives for Japan and Asia."

"Cook products have gained rapid acceptance throughout Asia, including first-to-market status in Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea for our Zenith endovascular graft for abdominal aortic aneurysm. As more Asian physicians adopt all minimally invasive medical technologies and more governments recognize the proven cost-benefits and quality of life improvements these devices bring, Cook intends to be the market leader in these fields across Asia," said Thomas. "My new responsibilities will include supporting and strengthening existing efforts and helping Cook pursue promising new initiatives in these crucial markets."

In his new position, Thomas will work closely with Cook's Asian and Japanese subsidiaries and distributors, as well as all eight Cook strategic business units - Peripheral Intervention, Surgery, Critical Care, Endoscopy, Urology, Women's Health, Cardiology and Aortic Intervention - to coordinate business strategies, help ensure efficient regulatory submissions and encourage effective sales and distribution of all Cook products in Asian nations.

About Cook Medical

Cook Medical was the first company to introduce interventional devices in the United States. Today, the company integrates device design, biopharma, gene and cell therapy and biotech to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes in the fields of aortic intervention; cardiology; critical care medicine; gastroenterology; radiology, peripheral vascular, bone access and oncology; surgery and soft tissue repair; urology; and assisted reproductive technology, gynecology and high-risk obstetrics. Cook won the prestigious Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Award for 2006 from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com.