US OEM Distribution Agreement

RNS Number : 1201L

Surgical Innovations Group PLC

27 July 2011

 



For immediate release

27 July 2011

Surgical Innovations Group plc

("SI" or "the Group")

SI signs exclusive five-year distribution agreement with CareFusion for
its new advanced laparoscopic retractor, Pretzel-Flex®

Surgical Innovations Group plc (AIM: SUN), the designer and manufacturer of innovative medical devices, announces it has signed heads of terms to enter into a five-year exclusive distribution agreement with CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading, global medical device company, for its new advanced Pretzel-Flex® laparoscopic retractor. 

Under the distribution agreement, CareFusion has acquired exclusive U.S. rights to Pretzel-Flex® for five years.  Surgical Innovations will manufacture the device for CareFusion and will be marketed in the U.S. under the CareFusion brand. SI retains the right to manufacture and distribute the device, under the SI brand in all other markets.

The patented Pretzel-Flex® has been developed by SI for the effective retraction or repositioning of large organs, such as the liver, to provide proper access and visualisation during complex minimally invasive surgery (MIS).  A common use of the device is in the retraction of the liver during a gastric bypass.  For this type of operation the liver must be moved (retracted) in order to obtain access to the upper stomach. The Pretzel-Flex® makes it much easier for doctors to retract large or swollen livers that are common in obese individuals.

The second-generation innovative design gives added strength to the flexible segment technology that SI originally developed for its leading EndoFlex® retractor that was previously licensed to CareFusion. The technology allows the instrument to meet unique surgical challenges by enabling the surgeon to insert the instrument through a small port access system, no more than 5mm, into the abdomen before activating a predetermined shape.  The Pretzel-Flex® has been so named because its predetermined shape is similar to that of a pretzel.

Greater strength has become a necessary requirement for retractors and SI has met the challenge of creating a retractor that meets the opposing demands for smaller devices, such as 3mm percutaneous instruments, and for the ability to gently reposition organs that have become steadily larger in obese patients over recent years. 

Graham Bowland, chief executive officer of SI, said: "This latest agreement with CareFusion affirms a long standing and successful partnership and gives Pretzel-Flex® access to an established U.S. sales force that is already well versed with our flex technology."

"The new Pretzel-Flex® laparoscopic retractor is a strong, complementary fit with our current portfolio of minimally invasive surgical products", said Jim Leitl, senior vice president and general manager of Medical Specialties, Medical Technologies & Services for CareFusion."

Enquiries:

Surgical Innovations Group plc

Doug Liversidge, Chairman

Graham Bowland, Chief Executive Officer                                                           Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]                                                                                  www.surginno.com

Seymour Pierce Limited

Freddy Crossley / Sarah Jacobs                                                                                 Tel: [phone]

Corporate Broking

Marianne Woods                                                                                                        www.seymourpierce.com

Media enquiries:

The Communications Portfolio

Ariane Comstive / Caolan Mahon                                                               Tel: [phone] / 2029

[e-mail]                                     Mob: [phone]

Media enquires:

CareFusion

Suzanne Hatcher                                                                                                                      Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

Notes to Editors:

About Surgical Innovations Group plc

Surgical Innovations Group plc specialises in the design and manufacture of innovative devices for use in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and industrial markets. 

As well as manufacturing single-use and reusable instruments for the laparoscopic market, the Group has pioneered its flagship Resposable® instrumentation combining both single use and reusable components, ensuring ongoing revenue streams and delivering the optimum procedure performance to cost ratio.

Over 120 people are employed at the Group's 32,000 square feet facility in Leeds, with in-house design, plastic injection moulding and manufacturing equipment, producing products to the highest quality standards.

For more information, see www.surginno.com 

About CareFusion

CareFusion (NYSE: CFN) is a global corporation serving the health care industry with products and services that help hospitals measurably improve patient care. The company develops market-leading technologies including Alaris® infusion pumps, Pyxis® automated dispensing and patient identification systems, AVEA® and LTV® series of ventilators and respiratory products, ChloraPrep® skin prep products, MedMined™ services for data mining surveillance, V. Mueller® and Snowden-Pencer® surgical instruments and NeuroCare diagnostic products.

For more information, see www.carefusion.com 

 

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