Coloplast Selected By LifeScience Alley to Host Minnesota Medical Device Panel

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Coloplast Corp. has been selected by LifeScience Alley to host its industry panel discussion today. The event will bring together several local companies to focus on medical device innovation, the future of the Minnesota medical device industry and proposed changes to the regulatory environment.

As part of his continued commitment to a thriving Minnesota medical community, Sen. Al Franken will join the discussion. Participants will speak specifically with Franken about the role the legislature can play in maintaining appropriate policies that ensure quality devices are brought to market while making critical reforms that support the medical device industry as it continues to drive innovation.

"Coloplast is excited to host this important panel," said Claus Bjerre, Coloplast U.S. President Chronic Care. "We selected Minnesota as the home of Coloplast's North American headquarters because of the strong medical device industry, the world-class medical community and the rich pool of talented employees here. Discussions like the one being held today advance the local medical community's efforts to innovate and bring products and services to market that improve patient quality of life and support the medical professionals who care for those patients."

Following the discussion, Coloplast will host Franken and Dale Wahlstrom, CEO of LifeScience Alley, on a tour of Coloplast's facility. The site features a state-of-the-art research and development Innovation Center and surgeon education labs.

"We are proud of our Minneapolis headquarters facility because it was designed with our most important stakeholders in mind: customers and employees," said Ash Keswani, global director, Coloplast Female Pelvic Health. "Our on-site Innovation Center helps us provide smarter, more advanced products for our customers. We also designed a work environment that employees are proud to come to each day and which the local talent pool finds attractive."

The panel, which is a closed discussion, will convene at Coloplast's North American headquarters at 1601 West River Road in Minneapolis. Minnesota companies participating in Wednesday's discussion include:

Affinity Capital Management
Apnex Medical
Berman Medical
Coloplast
ev3
Galil Medical
LifeScience Alley
Medtronic
Minnetronix
Smiths Medical
Spineology, Inc.
Tornier
U of M Law & Baker & Daniels
Vascular Solutions
Vital Images

About Coloplast

Danish medical device company Coloplast develops products and services that make life easier for people with very personal and private medical conditions. Working closely with the people who use our products, we create solutions that are sensitive to their special needs. We call this intimate healthcare. Our business includes ostomy care, urology, continence care, and wound and skin care. We operate globally and employ more than 7,000 people worldwide. In 2009, Coloplast opened the new North American headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The campus is LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and is home to one of the company's three global research-and-development Innovation Centers. Others are located in Denmark and France.

To learn more about Coloplast, visit www.coloplast.com.

Coloplast develops products and services that make life easier for people with very personal and private medical conditions. Working closely with the people who use our products, we create solutions that are sensitive to their special needs. We call this intimate healthcare. Our business includes ostomy care, urology and continence care and wound and skin care. We operate globally and employ more than 7,000 people.

Coloplast develops, manufactures and markets medical devices and services to an increasing number of users all over the world.  Our business areas include ostomy products; urology & continence care products and products for wound & skin care.  We work closely with health care professionals and product users in creating new and innovative products and services.  We employ approximately 7,000 people.

SOURCE Coloplast Corp.