Starion Instruments Licenses Its Innovative Thermal Welding Technology for Cardiac Surgery to Guidant Corporation.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers SARATOGA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2003 Starion Instruments announced today that it has signed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Guidant Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : GDT GDT Global Descriptor Table GDT Geographic Data Technology Inc. GDT Gas Discharge Tube (energy, electrotechinical and electronics) GDT Getting Things Done GDT Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing GDT Ground Data Terminal ), a world leader in the treatment of cardiac and vascular disease. Guidant has licensed Starion's Thermal Welding technology for use in Guidant's cardiac surgery Cardiac surgery is surgery on the heart and/or great vessels performed by a cardiac surgeon. Frequently, it is done to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, coronary artery bypass grafting), correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease products to advance endoscopic en·do·scope n. An instrument for examining visually the interior of a bodily canal or a hollow organ such as the colon, bladder, or stomach. en vessel harvesting procedures. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Starion Thermal Welding technology will be used initially in Guidant's VASOVIEW Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System, which is currently utilized in most endoscopic vessel harvesting procedures. Harvested vessels from the leg or the arm are used to bypass blocked coronary arteries Coronary arteries The two main arteries that provide blood to the heart. The coronary arteries surround the heart like a crown, coming out of the aorta, arching down over the top of the heart, and dividing into two branches. and restore blood flow in the more than 650,000 coronary artery bypass surgeries performed worldwide each year. "We are extremely proud to be partnering with a leader in the cardiac and vascular disease industry. We believe our novel technology will become an integral part of the protocol of thousands of physicians who are looking to make cardiac surgery less invasive for their patients," said J.C. Kirtland, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , Starion Instruments. Endoscopic vessel harvesting allows a clinician to remove, or "harvest", the saphenous vein saphenous vein n. Either of two main superficial veins of the leg, one larger than the other, that begin at the foot. Saphenous vein A long vein in the thigh or calf commonly used for bypass grafts. or radial artery radial artery n. 1. An artery with its origin in the brachial artery and with branches to the radial recurrent, dorsal metacarpal, and dorsal digital arteries, the principal artery of the thumb, the palmar metacarpal, and muscular and carpal through a small incision in the leg or arm rather than through the long incisions used in traditional or "open" harvesting procedures. Thermal Welding technology is an alternative method for cutting and sealing smaller side branches of the main harvested vessel. Thermal Welding is designed to simultaneously cut and seal vessel branches utilizing less energy than other methods, thereby minimizing potential trauma to the vessel. This technology may also provide better sealing of vessels that are under greater pressures, such as radial arteries. About Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting Patients who undergo endoscopic vessel harvesting may recover more quickly than those who undergo traditional vessel harvesting. Additionally, they are at a lower risk for developing postoperative infections due to the smaller and less traumatic incision. Currently in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , endoscopic vein harvesting is used in more than 40 percent of cardiac procedures that require vein grafts. Guidant's VASOVIEW Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System has been used in more than 240,000 patients to date for endoscopic harvesting of the saphenous vein in the leg. In May 2003 VASOVIEW was approved for use in harvesting the radial artery from the arm. About Starion Instruments Starion Instruments designs, manufactures and sells surgical instruments that simultaneously cut and seal tissue during surgery, employing a proprietary Thermal Welding(TM) technology, which is integrated into standard surgical instrument designs for a variety of open, minimally invasive and microsurgical procedures. |
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