Volcano Announces Launch of Valet® Microcatheter in the United States and Europe

SAN DIEGO, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Volcano Corporation (NASDAQ: VOLC) a leading developer and manufacturer of precision guided therapy tools designed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and peripheral vascular disease, today announces the launch of the Valet^® microcatheter in the United States and Europe.

Valet is a high performance microcatheter that is used for guidewire support, wire exchange and contrast injections during complex coronary and peripheral interventional procedures and is particularly useful for highly stenosed lesions.

According to company officials, Valet is the first product to incorporate Volcano's proprietary VeriTorque™ technology.  VeriTorque™ technology provides outstanding torque performance that, when combined with Valet's shapeable distal tip, helps physicians precisely control and position their guidewire in distal and tortuous anatomy.  Valet also provides a new level of guidewire crossing support on account of its seamless, powder coated shaft and reinforced layers of microwire wind on the proximal segment of the catheter.

"The Valet microcatheter launch highlights Volcano's commitment to providing precision guided therapies, specifically in the area of highly stenosed lesions," said Scott Huennekens, President and CEO of Volcano Corporation.  "Highly stenosed lesions and complex lesions represent some of the most challenging conditions an interventionalist may face. We believe a microcatheter with ultra-high performance attributes like Valet will be welcomed."

"Volcano has brought real innovation to the microcatheter--one of our front line tools in treating chronic coronary artery occlusions," said Dr. Barry Rutherford, Director of the Interventional Cardiology Research Program at St. Luke's Mid America Heart Institute and the physician performing the product's first U.S. in-man case.  "I found the catheter to have excellent torque response and superb handling and tracking."    

"Valet offers compelling performance benefits in challenging peripheral endovascular cases.  The combination of support, deliverability and guidewire control is unique," commented Dr. Christos Katsigiannis, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and the surgeon performing the first peripheral in-man cases with Valet.  "I particularly appreciated Valet's performance in navigating the complex anatomy below-the-knee."

The Valet microcatheter is available in sizes compatible with 0.014" and 0.035" guidewires and in lengths of 100cm, 135cm and 150cm.  Additional product information is available at www.volcanocorp.com.

About Volcano Corporation
Volcano Corporation is revolutionizing the medical device industry with a broad suite of technologies that make imaging and therapy simpler, more informative and less invasive. Its products empower physicians around the world with a new generation of analytical tools that deliver more meaningful information - using sound and light as the guiding elements. Founded in cardiovascular care and expanding into other specialties, Volcano is changing the assumption about what is possible in improving patient outcomes by combining imaging and therapy together. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts may be considered "forward-looking statements" including statements regarding the potential benefits of the Valet microcatheter, and other products, procedures and technologies described above, the  pace and extent of market adoption of the company's Valet microcatheter product and other technologies, and the impact of clinical and other technical data. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause Volcano's results to differ materially and adversely from the statements contained herein. Some of the potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ include the pace and extent of market adoption of the company's products and technologies; unexpected clinical trial results, including unexpected new clinical data and unexpected additional analysis of existing clinical data; unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the company's ability to obtain or maintain patent or other proprietary intellectual property protection; competition in general; government, industry and general public pricing pressures; unexpected manufacturing issues; growth strategies; timing and achievement of product development milestones; outcome of ongoing litigation; the impact and benefits of market development; product introductions; unexpected new data, safety and technical issues; market conditions; and other risks inherent to medical device development and commercialization. These and additional risks and uncertainties are more fully described in Volcano's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our recent  annual report on Form 10-K. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made. Volcano undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they are made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Volcano Corporation