Synovis Life Technologies Receives U.S. Patent for Flow Coupler
ST. PAUL, Minn., May 10 // -- Synovis Life Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:SYNO), a diversified medical device manufacturer, announced today it has received a U.S. patent for its Flow Coupler, the next generation of the company's Microvascular Anastomotic Coupler System. The Coupler is a mechanical device which connects small blood vessels more quickly and with equal or greater reliability than hand suturing.
The Flow Coupler incorporates a 20MHz Doppler sensor to measure blood flow at the site where the vessel is joined (the anastomosis). The Doppler sensor provides surgeons reliable, real time information about blood flow through the anastomosis, enabling timely intervention in the event of a blockage at the anastomosis site. Synovis currently expects to complete development and verification testing of the Flow Coupler, and make a 510(k) marketing clearance submission to the Food and Drug Administration, by the end of calendar 2007.
"The Coupler is one of the most exciting products in our microsurgery product portfolio, and sales have been growing consistently and significantly," said Richard Kramp, Synovis Life Technologies president and chief executive officer. In the fiscal first quarter ended Jan. 31, 2007, microsurgery product sales increased to $1.1 million, up 21 percent over the year-earlier period. Within this category, Coupler sales grew 30 percent in that same period.
Kramp continued, "We are very happy to receive a U.S. patent for this invention, and we believe the addition of real time blood flow information will make the Coupler an even more valuable tool for surgeons to use in their efforts to reclaim severed limbs or renew critical blood supply to body tissues. The Flow Coupler supports our microsurgical team's goal to be the micro-surgeon's most trusted resource."
The Flow Coupler broadens Synovis' microsurgical product line significantly. The company estimates the current market opportunity for the Coupler to be $20 million annually; the Flow Coupler is expected to double this opportunity to $40 million.
The Coupler is widely used in microvascular surgery to construct end-to-end anastomoses. It is most commonly used in plastic and reconstructive, head and neck, and hand surgeries. Significant benefits of the Coupler include a patency rate (blood vessels staying open) exceeding 97 percent and a time savings for surgeons in the operating room -- a significant cost reduction.
About Synovis Life Technologies
Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a diversified medical device company engaged in developing, manufacturing and bringing to market medical devices for the surgical and interventional treatment of disease. For additional information on Synovis Life Technologies and its businesses, visit the company's Web site at http://www.synovislife.com/.
Source: Synovis Life Technologies, Inc.
CONTACT: Brett Reynolds, CFO, or Richard Kramp, President and CEO, both of Synovis Life Technologies, Inc., +1-651-796-7300
Web site: http://www.synovislife.com/
