MAQUET Cardiovascular Launches New VASOVIEW 6 PRO Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System

WAYNE, N.J., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MAQUET Cardiovascular today announced the U.S. launch of the VASOVIEW 6 PRO Endoscopic Vessel Harvesting System. This latest advance in the VASOVIEW 6 platform for endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH) offers streamlined controls, improved functionality and simplified operation to support positive outcomes in delivering EVH to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

The VASOVIEW 6 PRO system has improved ergonomics and delivers a higher level of performance than the previous VASOVIEW 6 product. These product updates may help reduce procedure time and shorten the learning curve for vessel harvesting, thereby optimizing patient outcomes. Additionally, each VASOVIEW 6 PRO system includes MAQUET's VASOSHIELD Pressure Controlling Syringe, which allows clinicians to adjust and limit pressure in controlled increments when preparing a vessel for grafting during coronary artery bypass procedures. Protection from overdistension helps optimize conduit quality by protecting harvested vessels. Uncontrolled, high distension pressure has been shown to injure the vessel's endothelium, potentially affecting long-term graft patency.

"We are impressed with the VASOVIEW 6 PRO technological improvements and look forward to being able to use the system in our practice," said Christopher K. McCarley, PA-C, a Chief Physician Assistant of Cardiothoracic Surgery from Tupelo, Miss.  "It is very convenient that the VASOSHIELD Pressure Controlling Syringe is included, because we believe the extra protection it affords against overdistension of the conduit is an important factor in successful patient outcomes."

"The VASOVIEW 6 PRO System was developed utilizing real-world, clinical user input and addresses the needs of our customers who use endoscopic vessel harvesting in their daily practice as a standard of care," said Patrick Walsh, President of the MAQUET Cardiovascular Cardiac Surgery business unit.

About EVH

In EVH, a healthy blood vessel, such as the saphenous vein from the leg or the radial artery from the arm, is removed through a small incision for use during CABG surgery to bypass a blockage in the heart.  Open vein harvesting requires a lengthy incision that is often extremely painful and prone to healing complications.  EVH offers several patient benefits, including faster healing, less postoperative pain and scarring, and reduced risk of wound complications, such as infection.  These well-established benefits have resulted in EVH becoming the standard of care in the United States, with 80 percent of all CABG surgeries utilizing this technique.

MAQUET is a global supplier of market-leading VASOVIEW EVH Systems.

About MAQUET Cardiovascular

MAQUET Cardiovascular is a leader in providing innovative products for cardiac surgery, vascular intervention and cardiac support to hospitals and clinics and the cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, perfusionists and other healthcare professionals who care for patients with cardiovascular disease.  MAQUET Cardiovascular is focused on providing clinicians with future-oriented technology that fits into their daily practice and improves the therapeutic management of patients.  MAQUET Cardiovascular continues to invest in the development of innovative technologies and solutions that advance clinical practice, improve patient outcomes and enhance quality of life.

MAQUET Cardiovascular was formed in 2003 when MAQUET, the world's leading medical technology company, combined its existing Cardiopulmonary business (equipment and consumables for open heart surgery) and the ventilator business in Critical Care, which the publicly-listed Swedish GETINGE Group acquired in 2003.  In 2008, MAQUET added the Cardiac Surgery and Vascular Interventions businesses acquired by GETINGE from Boston Scientific and Guidant.  In 2009, it added the Cardiac Assist businesses that GETINGE acquired from Datascope.  MAQUET Cardiovascular provides healthcare professionals with products in four business units:  Cardiopulmonary (perfusion products), Cardiac Surgery (clampless beating heart and endoscopic vessel harvesting), Vascular Interventions (grafts for vascular surgery), and Cardiac Assist (intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation therapy).

About The MAQUET Group

The MAQUET Group is the global market leader for Medical Systems, focusing on the Operating Room (OR), Cath Lab, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Patient Transport. The integrated products of MAQUET are specially designed to deliver optimal clinical treatment and therapeutic applications within acute care hospitals. MAQUET provides innovative medical solutions from three Divisions:

• Cardiovascular with products for cardiac assist (intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation therapy), coronary artery bypass surgery, complex aortic surgery reconstruction, peripheral interventions and extracorporeal circulation
• Critical Care for intensive care ventilators and anesthesia machines
• Surgical Workplaces for OR tables, lights and ceiling service units, flexible room design for OR, Cath Lab and ICU as well as digital OR integration

MAQUET is a subsidiary of the publicly-listed Swedish GETINGE GROUP, a company with around $3 billion in revenue (2009 fiscal year) and 12,100 employees worldwide. In 2009 MAQUET itself generated revenue of around $1.5 billion. The company now has more than 5,000 employees in 36 international sales and service organizations, as well as a network of more than 250 distributors. Twelve manufacturing sites are located in six countries.

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SOURCE MAQUET Cardiovascular