Cook Women's Health Improves the Treatment of Postpartum Hemorrhage; Bakri Balloon Designed to Manage Postpartum Uterine Bleeding.

SPENCER, Ind. -- The Cook Bakri Postpartum Balloon offers health care providers and their patients a potentially lifesaving device to aid in the treatment of postpartum bleeding, one of the leading causes of death following childbirth. The balloon catheter is manufactured and marketed by Cook Women's Health, a division of Cook, the world's largest private medical device company. The balloon has proven to be an effective management device for postpartum uterine hemorrhage. Use of the balloon helps preserve the patient's fertility by potentially limiting the need for a hysterectomy to stop the bleeding.

Hemorrhage following the birth of a child occurs in one to two percent of all deliveries and represents one of the leading causes of childbirth-related maternal mortality. Although various management measures are available to treat the hemorrhage, many of these options may still lead to hysterectomy or a separate surgical procedure.

When the latex-free Bakri Postpartum Balloon is positioned in the patient's uterus and inflated with sterile liquid, it conforms to the shape of the uterus and may quickly provide immediate management of the hemorrhage. Once the hemorrhaging has stopped, the balloon is easily deflated and removed. Unlike other forms of hemorrhage control, the balloon does not require surgical removal.

"Cook's Bakri Balloon represents a significant advancement in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage," says Christina Anne, Global Leader of Cook Women's Health. "The balloon catheter illustrates one example of our vision of revolutionizing gender-based medicine. Cook Women's Health is committed to improving the quality of life for female patients by offering the highest standard of products that reduce patient recovery times and simplify medical procedures."

Since the announced launch of the specialized business unit in May, Cook Women's Health has brought a new level of patient-centered innovation to market recognizing that women have special health and medical needs. Cook Women's Health continues to uniquely address prevalent issues in women's health globally including infertility, high-risk obstetrics, chronic pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence.

About Cook Medical

With international headquarters in Bloomington, Indiana, COOK(R) (www.cookmedical.com), the world's largest privately held medical device manufacturer, is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for radiology, cardiology, urology, critical care medicine, general surgery, assisted reproduction, gynecology and obstetrics, endovascular medicine, gastroenterology and endoscopy.