Experienced Medical Device Executive and Former CFO of Thermage Inc. To

Drive Coapt's Growth In New Markets, Including Non-Invasive Aesthetics

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    PALO ALTO, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Coapt Systems, Inc.,
 developer of bioabsorbable implants for the fixation of soft tissue in the
 plastic, reconstructive and sports medicine markets, announced today the
 appointment of Laureen DeBuono as its President and CEO. She will also
 serve as a member of the company's Board of Directors. DeBuono has more
 than 25 years of management experience in the medical device and technology
 markets. She was most recently CFO of Thermage, Inc., one of the leading
 medical device companies for aesthetic applications, where she was
 instrumental in building its growth platform and taking the company public
 in November 2006. At Coapt Systems, DeBuono will focus on growing core
 product revenue, building the technology platform, and expanding into new
 markets, including non-invasive aesthetics.
 
     (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080613/AQF014)
 
     "I am thrilled to join Coapt Systems as its President and CEO and to
 help the company achieve even greater success by taking advantage of new
 market opportunities," said DeBuono. "Coapt has established itself as a
 market leader and innovator, and the company has steadily increased its
 product offerings and customer base. Coapt is now poised to expand its
 innovative product line and to move into new markets, particularly
 non-invasive aesthetics."
 
     The company has introduced seven products into the market since 2002,
 and over 65,000 patients worldwide have received ENDOTINE(TM) implants in
 facial rejuvenation procedures. The Company's products are sold in over 41
 countries.
 
     Coapt Systems, founded in 2000 by a practicing plastic surgeon,
 designs, develops, manufactures, and markets bio absorbable implants that
 provide surgeons with breakthrough soft tissue fixation technology. Coapt's
 revolutionary platform technology for soft tissue fixation enables surgeons
 to reduce operating time, facilitate minimally invasive procedures,
 minimize procedural complexity, and achieve improved surgical outcomes.
 Coapt's patented ENDOTINE family of products are used for plastic surgery
 procedures that require accurate soft tissue fixation either to opposing
 soft tissue or to bone. The ENDOTINE product line is becoming the standard
 of care in aesthetic facial procedures.
 
     "Coapt Systems has all the necessary elements, including strong
 management and an innovative product line, to continue its strong pace of
 growth and expansion," said Brent Ahrens, general partner at Canaan
 Partners. "Coapt is a great example of the type of innovative, high-growth
 company meeting unmet medical needs we invest in at Canaan. Laureen is a
 great addition to the team with her extensive management experience and
 recent success in the growing field of non-invasive aesthetics. Under her
 leadership, Coapt is poised to achieve even greater success moving
 forward."
 
     Prior to joining Thermage in 2003, DeBuono was a consulting EVP and CFO
 to several public and private technology and medical device companies.
 DeBuono was also EVP, COO and CFO of More.com, an Internet health products
 commerce company, and she was EVP, COO and CFO of Resound Corporation, a
 public, hearing products and communications company that was acquired by GN
 Great Nordic in 1999. She also served as EVP, General Counsel to Nellcor
 Puritan Bennett Inc., a $900M public respiratory products company, from
 1992-1998, and negotiated the sale of the company to Mallinkcrodt, Inc. in
 1998. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Invivo, Inc., a public
 patient safety monitoring company, from 1998-2004, and of VISX, Inc., a
 public vision correction company, from 2003-2005, both of which were
 acquired. DeBuono received her J.D. from New York University Law School, an
 M.A. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Duke University.
 
     About Coapt Systems
 
     Coapt's product lineup includes the ENDOTINE Forehead, Midface ST,
 Midface B, TransBleph, Triple, Ribbon and SurgiWire devices, all of which
 are FDA approved. The company is also developing products for hand tendon
 repair. Located in Palo Alto, California, Coapt Systems Inc. is a privately
 held company with 47 employees.
 
     For further information, visit http://www.coaptsystems.com.
 
 
 

SOURCE Coapt Systems Inc.