Patent News CTSI
Tuesday April 20, 7:31 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: CardioThoracic Systems, Inc.
CardioThoracic Systems Issued Two Patents for Beating Heart Bypass Surgery
CUPERTINO, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., (CTS), (Nasdaq: CTSI - news), a developer of minimally invasive cardiac surgery devices, reported today that it has been issued two key patents. One patent covers methods for mechanically stabilizing a beating heart during the anastomosis procedure of a coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The other patent covers methods for performing a MIDCAB(TM)Procedure, which is beating heart bypass surgery through a thoracotomy incision.
The mechanical stabilization patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,894,843, entitled ''Methods for Stabilizing the Beating Heart During Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery,'' was filed February 20, 1996 and issued today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The MIDCAB Procedure Patent, U.S. Patent No. 5,888,247, entitled ''Method for Coronary Artery Bypass,'' was filed April 10, 1995 and issued March 30, 1999.
''The '843 Patent is particularly important to CTS as it covers most of the beating heart bypass procedures using mechanical stabilization, including OPCAB(TM) Procedures (beating heart surgery through a mid-sternal incision) and MIDCAB(TM) Procedures,'' explained Richard Ferrari, CTS president and CEO. ''This significant patent further bolsters our intellectual property portfolio, which is now growing with increased momentum. We are very pleased with the issuance of these two patents,'' he added. ''We believe they will continue to position us as a pioneer and leader in minimally invasive beating heart bypass surgery.''
CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., located in Cupertino, Calif., is a leading developer of proprietary technologies for use in minimally invasive cardiac surgery. CTS introduced its first generation system for minimally invasive beating heart bypass surgery in January 1997. Since that time, CTS has shipped over 30,000 beating heart bypass systems.
This news release contains forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties including uncertainties associated with coverage and benefits of the company's patents. Actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of those and other factors, including factors set forth in the company's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1999. Copies of the Annual Report on Form 10-K are available by calling the company's investor relations department at 408-342-1700.
To learn more about CardioThoracic Systems, Inc., visit the company's website at www.cardioth.com.
SOURCE: CardioThoracic Systems, Inc. |
