Plaque Removal Device helps treat peripheral artery disease.

Press Release Summary:



With MEC(TM) Technology that features 150 micron laser-drilled vent holes in tip of catheter, SilverHawk® SXL plaque excision system is designed to remove atherosclerotic tissue that blocks leg arteries in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease. FDA approved unit can be used in arteries of lower leg, and allows for increased tissue collection capacity when combined with long nosecone.



Original Press Release:



FoxHollow Technologies Introduces Enhanced Plaque Removal Technology for Treating Peripheral Artery Disease



The SilverHawk® SXL With Proprietary MEC(TM) Technology Increases Tissue Collection Capacity and Improves Ease of Use for Physicians

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 3 /- FoxHollow Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOXH), today announced the launch of the company's latest advancement in plaque excision technology: the SilverHawk® SXL. This newest device is part of the SilverHawk product family, which currently includes ten distinct sizes of minimally invasive catheters designed to remove atherosclerotic tissue that blocks leg arteries in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The SilverHawk SXL, which can be used in arteries of the lower leg, has a lengthened nosecone and includes MEC(TM) (Micro Efficient Compression) Technology, a novel advancement which features 150 micron laser-drilled vent holes in the tip of the catheter. The tiny vent holes help to release fluid during tissue collection. When combined with the longer nosecone, this new technology may allow for increased tissue collection capacity. These improvements could shorten overall procedure time by reducing the number of insertions required by the physician to remove the diseased tissue.

PAD is a condition that afflicts as many as 12 million Americans, and occurs when plaque accumulates in the arteries and blocks blood flow in the legs. These blockages can result in severe leg pain, very limited physical mobility, and ultimately, can lead to amputation. The SilverHawk Plaque Excision System is a minimally invasive method of removing the obstructive plaque and restoring blood flow to the legs and feet. The SilverHawk catheters utilize a tiny rotating blade to shave plaque from artery walls and a reservoir nosecone to collect the excised plaque from the patient. Unlike angioplasty or stenting, SilverHawk plaque excision does not simply push the plaque against artery walls, but instead removes it from the artery.

"We are extremely proud of this latest enhancement to the SilverHawk product line," said John Simpson, Ph.D., M.D., FoxHollow's founder and Chief Executive Officer. "Physicians told us they wanted a device that was faster and easier to use. The SilverHawk SXL is the first of many technological advances that address speed and ease of use, and are coming from our internal R&D pipeline. We remain focused on providing physicians with better tools for improving patient outcomes in PAD," he added.

FoxHollow's SilverHawk Plaque Excision System received FDA approval for use in the peripheral arteries of the leg in June 2003 and has been used in over 100,000 procedures to date.

About FoxHollow Technologies, Inc.

FoxHollow Technologies, Inc. develops and markets endovascular therapeutic devices for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD results from plaque that accumulates in the arteries and blocks blood flow in the legs. These blockages can result in severe pain for patients and very limited physical mobility. The company's SilverHawk® Plaque Excision System is a minimally invasive method of removing obstructive plaque and restoring blood flow to the legs and feet. FoxHollow also markets the Rinspirator® System for removing thrombus, or blood clots, from occluded arteries in patients suffering from PAD or coronary artery disease (CAD). For more information, please visit our website at www.foxhollowtech.com/ .

Contacts:

Media Relations:
Robin Gaffney
650-421-8614
rgaffney@foxhollowtech.com

FCMN Contact: mfanucchi@foxhollowtech.com

Source: FoxHollow Technologies, Inc.

Web site: www.foxhollowtech.com/

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