Teleflex Medical Introduces the Next Step in Chronic Hemodialysis Catheter Technology -- the Arrow(R) NextStep(TM).

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. -- Teleflex Medical, a leading global supplier of disposable products for critical care and surgical applications, has announced the NextStep Chronic Hemodialysis Catheter is available for release in the United States. The Arrow NextStep will debut at the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Conference in Washington DC.

The Arrow NextStep is the first of its kind, a retrograde tunneled chronic hemodialysis catheter designed to combine a step-tip catheter's ease of insertion and a split-tip's sustained high flow. The Arrow NextStep's unique tip is designed for a smooth transition through a sheath and for over-the-wire insertion.

To reduce recirculation and deliver high flow, the Arrow NextStep's tip has two unique complementary features: First, the ports on the catheter are reversed to take better advantage of blood flow dynamics. The venous port releases blood in the SVC and the arterial port draws blood from the right atrium. Second, the ports are significantly separated to enhance flow and minimize recirculation.

Retrograde tunneling improves your ability to ideally position the catheter tip, cuff and hub. The Arrow NextStep is engineered to take advantage of retrograde tunneling, and to help clinicians achieve the outcomes they want for their patients.

"The design of this catheter allows 360 degrees of blood around the arterial port in the right atrium whereas the arterial port of traditional step-tip catheters are only exposed to 180 degrees of blood," said John Ross MD, Department of Surgery, Bamberg County Hospital and Access Connections, LLC. He continued, "My experience evaluating this product has shown excellent kinetics."

About Teleflex Medical

Headquartered in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Teleflex Medical is a global leader in disposable medical products for critical care and surgical applications and a business segment of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX). The company also produces surgical instruments and devices, cardiac devices and other specialty products for device manufacturers. The Teleflex Medical family of brands includes the trusted names of Arrow[R] , Beere[R] Deknatel[R], Gibeck[R], Hudson RCI[R], KMedic[R], Pilling[R], Pleur-Evac[R], Rusch[R], Sheridan[R], SMD[TM], SSI[TM], Taut[R], TFX OEM[R] and Weck[R].

The Arrow brand product line offers a broad range of clinically advanced, disposable catheters and related products for critical and cardiac care. Arrow products are used primarily by anesthesiologists, critical care specialists, surgeons, emergency and trauma physicians, cardiologists, interventional radiologists and other healthcare providers. More information about the Arrow NextStep catheter can be found at www.arrowintl.com/NextStep