LEIPZIG, Germany, 27 January 2010 — This year's Leipzig Interventional Course sees Cook Medical roll out a range of innovative products aimed at improving treatment options for the 27 million people in Europe and North America¹ affected with some form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and other diseases of the circulatory system.

The range of new products form an integral part of Cook's Advancing Leg Therapies programme, the industry's broadest line of products engineered specifically to address the dynamic circulation of the iliac, femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal vascular systems. An important part of this programme is Cook's Zilver® PTX® Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent, the world's first drug-eluting stent approved for the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The stent, which is coated with the drug paclitaxel using a proprietary polymer-free technology, is specifically designed and approved to treat PAD affecting the main blood vessel in the thigh, the SFA. It is a self-expanding stent made of nitinol, a space-age 'shape memory' metal that offers unique mechanical advantages for a stent in the SFA. The stent, which received the CE mark last year, has been used successfully across Europe. A regulatory submission for approval in the United States is being prepared.

Revascularisation procedures using these devices can help address both above- and below-the-knee blockages using minimally invasive techniques. In addition to Zilver PTX, products to be showcased at the LINC symposium include the Micropuncture® Introducer Set for the placement of wire guides into the vascular system, the Approach® CTO and the Approach® Hydro ST Microwire Guides designed specifically for crossing lesions for smooth advancement through the vessels. Also demonstrated will be the CXI™ Support Catheter, a true peripherally designed support catheter that can be used to reach and cross lesions. Finally, the Advance® 35LP and Advance® 14LP balloon dilatation catheters for the treatment of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, will also be exhibited at the congress. These are the latest in The Advance line of balloon dilatation catheters, which range in size and composition to treat lesions in the peripheral arteries, from the iliac through the femoropopliteal and into the infrapopliteal region. Each balloon features a low crossing profile and small-sheath compatibility that may shorten patient recovery time.

“With our new Advancing Leg Therapies programme, we're providing the most complete set of treatment options for those affected by PAD,” said Rob Lyles, vice president and global leader of Cook Medical's peripheral intervention division. “Through our continued efforts to innovate, Cook now offers vascular interventionalists a diverse array of solutions, which enables them to provide a suitable treatment option for every patient. Ultimately, the aim of our Advancing Leg Therapies Programme and these new products will be to create better outcomes for patients suffering from PAD.”

PAD, a silent and symptomless disease in its early stages, occurs when blood vessels become clogged with a build up of fatty deposits, limiting circulation to areas of the body including the legs, feet and kidneys:

• PAD is one of the fastest-growing and most pervasive diseases of our time, and it is estimated to affect 27 million individuals in Europe and North America. However, only approximately a third of these patients have any symptoms at all¹
• According to UK hospital episode statistics, there were 10,763 amputations for diabetes or arterial disease in England in 2007/08 – an increase of approximately 600 over the prior year²
• Total mortality rates are bleak, with 5-year mortality up to 31 per cent³
• The high rate of amputation also has major implications on the healthcare economy. For example the estimated costs of lower extremity amputation are between US$16,488 and US$66,215 including the costs of nursing and institutional care⁴.

To reverse these statistics, Cook, which has put nearly half a century of work in advancing minimally invasive health care, is introducing these new products that adjust to the various manifestations of leg disease.

About Cook Medical
Founded in 1963, Cook Medical pioneered many of the medical devices now commonly used to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body. Today, the company integrates medical devices, drugs and biologics to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. Since its inception, Cook has operated as a family-held private corporation. For more information, visit http://www.cookmedical.com/. Follow Cook Medical on Twitter at twitter.com/cookmedicalpr.