Aircraft Medical Launches World's First Low Cost Video Laryngoscope

EDINBURGH, Scotland, October 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Aircraft Medical, the UK based medical device manufacturer, announces the launch of the McGRATH(R) MAC, the world's first high value, low cost video laryngoscope at the American Society of Anaesthesiology annual meeting in San Diego, California. Principally aimed at the routine, general intubations market, the new product has been designed to address increasing clinical demand and make video intubation technology more accessible to doctors world-wide. Adoption of this technology has previously been limited by high prices and global constraints on hospital budgets.

The McGRATH(R) MAC opens a much bigger market opportunity for Aircraft Medical, targeting the volume market with more than 50 million procedures each year. It is the result of extensive research and development, combining the traditionally shaped Macintosh laryngoscope blade with the strengths of McGRATH(R) technology and design.

The proprietary McGRATH(R) MAC is better adapted for everyday clinical practice and complements the Company's existing McGRATH(R) Series 5 video laryngoscope, which is targeted at the specialist market for difficult airway procedures.

Matt McGrath, CEO of Aircraft Medical, said: "We have today made the case to strengthen our position as a leader in the video laryngoscope market. The McGRATH(R) MAC will significantly expand our customer base and will help drive our next phase of growth. It represents a distillation of more than a decade of intellectual property and technical development in video laryngoscope design. I am grateful to the dedicated and talented Aircraft Medical team and clinicians around the world who have together delivered the McGRATH(R) MAC - we believe it is the first candidate technology capable of transforming the video laryngoscope market beyond its current boundaries."

Irene Osborn, M.D. Director, Division of Neuroanesthesia, Mount Sinai medical Center, New York City, said: "For everyday practice it is a great device and has the potential to make us more successful every time."

The McGRATH(R) MAC was CE marked in May 2010 and FDA registered in September 2010, and will be available for initial customer deliveries in December 2010.

Background

Aircraft Medical

Aircraft Medical is a specialist developer and producer of high quality medical devices and is focussed on the needs of anaesthesia and critical care professionals around the world. Its proprietary technology includes the compact and versatile McGRATH(R) video laryngoscope range, as well as Index of Consciousness patient monitoring technology. Aircraft Medical is recognised as a founding member of the rapidly emerging video laryngoscope market with its McGRATH(R) Series 5 now sold in 35 countries around the world. The Company entered new premises at Dalgety Bay, north of Edinburgh in 2010, and has a dedicated R&D subsidiary in Barcelona, Spain, as well as a customer service team in the United States. Aircraft Medical's founder and CEO, Matt McGrath, was recently named as the 2010 Winner of the prestigious Gannochy Trust award for innovation from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Aircraft Medical is committed to expanding its product range and markets in the coming years, and to building a significant new brand in healthcare.

For further information visit http://www.aircraftmedical.com

SOURCE Aircraft Medical