Sorin Group's Annuloplasty Ring MEMO 3D(TM) Obtained CE Mark; Presented at the 5th EACTS/ESTS the Product Major Features and the First Implant.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Sorin Group (MIL:SRN), Europe's largest medical technology company specialized in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and leader in Cardiac Surgery, presented last week, at the 5th EACTS/ESTS Joint Meeting Congress, the new MEMO 3D(TM) Semirigid Annuloplasty Ring, which received CE mark approval last August.

Memo 3D(TM) it is the only semirigid annuloplasty ring designed to mimick the physiological three-dimensional motion of the mitral annulus. Thanks to a shape memory and superelastic metal alloy internal core, which allows the ring to adapt to the annular saddle shape and keep memory, the device can ensure both mitral annulus shape and function during cardiac cycle.

Memo 3D(TM) is coated with Carbofilm, a carbon coating aimed at improving haemo and biocompatibility.

This ring is the result of synergies between coronary stent technology,the ring's laser-cut internal core and valve prostheses know how.

Prof. Fischlein (Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany) presented the product's major features and first implant during the Satellite Symposium "Controversial Cases in the Treatment of Mitral and Tricuspid Valves Diseases" chaired by Dr. Alfieri (San Raffaele Hospital, Milan).

The satellite symposium, attended by 450 heart surgeons coming from all over the world, has given Dr. Lessana (Centre Cardiologique du Nord, Paris, France) and Dr. Mascagni (Villa Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy) the opportunity to discuss some controversial cases on mitral and tricuspid valves disease, with an interesting real time televoting system, which made the interaction with the audience fruitful.

"Memo 3D(TM) represents a real break-through in cardiac surgery, because it is designed to restore the left ventricular function of the human heart", said Franco Vallana, President, of the Cardiac Surgery Business Unit.

About MEMO 3D(TM) Annuloplasty Ring

--Innovative cell-structure design, capable of mimicking the physiological three-dimensional motility of the native mitral annulus and accommodating the anatomical saddle shape;

--Shape memory and super-elastic alloy core, aimed at restoring the native shape and function;

--Sorin Group's exclusive Carbofilm(TM) coating for enhanced haemo- and bio-compatibility;

--Ease of implant, according to a pre-defined line and thanks to a particular configuration of the silicon filler.

About Sorin Group

Sorin Group (Reuters code: SORN.MI), a world leader in the development of medical technologies for cardiac surgery, offers innovative therapies for cardiac rhythm dysfunctions, interventional cardiology and the treatment of chronic kidney diseases. The companies of Sorin Group are: Bellco, CarboMedics, COBE Cardiovascular, Dideco, ELA Medical, Mitroflow, Soludia, Sorin Biomedica and, Stockert. Sorin Group has about 4,600 employees working at facilities in more than 80 countries throughout the world to serve over 5,000 public and private treatment centers.

www.sorin.com