Elast-Eon Improves Reliabilit

RNS Number : 2536Y

Aortech International PLC

20 December 2010

 



For Immediate Release

20 December 2010

AorTech Polymers Significantly Improve Reliability Performance for

Pacemaker Products

In an announcement made in the Wall Street Journal on 17 December 2010, St. Jude Medical reported that:

"The company told doctors that newer leads with a type of insulation it calls "Optim™" - sold with Riata ST Optim™ and Durata™ leads - have demonstrated a better than 80% reduction in "abrasion-related observations" after 44 months compared with silicone leads. The Optim™ insulation involves both silicone and polyurethane."

St. Jude Medical stated that it had converted 97% of its production to Optim™.  Optim™ is the brand name used by St. Jude Medical for AorTech's polymer Elast-Eon™.  AorTech markets the same material as Elast-Eon™.

AorTech CEO Frank Maguire said, "We are pleased that St. Jude Medical has published these clinical results that rest on the outstanding performance of our Elast-Eon™ polymers as well as our unique manufacturing process, which allow us to provide highly consistent materials delivered to our customers. This announcement on the part of St. Jude Medical is another important step forward in the commercialisation of AorTech polymers in a wide variety of implantable medical devices."

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For further information please contact:

AorTech International plc

Frank Maguire, Chief Executive

Tel: + 1 801 201 4336

Evolution Securities
Bobbie Hilliam / Chris Clarke

Tel: [phone]

AorTech International plc

Sarah Price, Investor Relations

Tel: + 1 801 550 4349

e-mail [e-mail]

About AorTech

AorTech develops and manufactures biostable, implantable polymers, including Elast-Eon™ and ECSil™, the world's leading long-term implantable co-polymers.  With more than 3 million implants and over four years of successful clinical use, AorTech polymers are currently used in cardiology, orthopaedic, urological and gastroenterological applications, including pacing leads, cardiac cannulae and stents.  Devices manufactured from AorTech polymers have numerous US FDA PMA approvals, 510k's, CE Marks, Australian TGA and Japanese Ministry of Health approvals.

Elast-Eon™ and ECSil's™ biostability is comparable to silicone while exhibiting excellent mechanical, blood contacting and flex-fatigue properties. Our polymers can be processed using solution casting, ERIM and conventional thermoplastic extrusion and molding techniques. AorTech provides a range of materials in a variety of application-specific formulations for use in medical devices and components.

 

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