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News CryoCath Launches FrostByte™ GloballyClamp Device Strengthens Company’s Competitive Position to Penetrate the Surgical Ablation Market
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - July 20, 2005 - CryoCath Technologies Inc. (TSX:CYT), the global leader in cryotherapy products to treat cardiovascular disease, today announced it has successfully completed a beta launch of FrostByte. FrostByte is the first two-in-one convertible device that incorporates a clamp and a surgical probe (SurgiFrost) indicated for minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures, including the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Accordingly, CryoCath and its marketing and distribution partner, ATS Medical (Nasdaq:ATSI), are now launching the product globally. CryoCath has received European CE approval for the newly designed FrostByte and had previously secured U.S. FDA 510k clearance. The FrostByte clamp is designed to secure the contact point between the cryoablation probe segment and the cardiac tissue, thereby improving effectiveness and reducing procedure time. The beta launch was held at six leading U.S. cardiac surgical centers. “I am very familiar with the product category of clamp-based ablation products, and, having recently been introduced to the newest FrostByte/SurgiFrost combined device, I suspect other surgeons like myself will now find broad clinical utility in its application,” said Dr. Charles A. Mack of The New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. “Certainly, from a patient’s perspective, the safety advantages of cryoenergy alone provide tangible rationale for its use when treating cardiac arrhythmias surgically." It is estimated that the annual global market opportunity for FrostByte and SurgiFrost, in all contemplated applications, is projected to grow to be more than US$250 million. "The practice of treating arrhythmias with a surgical procedure is gaining acceptance across North America and elsewhere. It's innovations, like cryoablation, which allow physicians to safely and confidently create the full set of lesions needed to maximize patient outcomes, will ultimately accelerate this trend," said Dr. W.R. Chitwood Jr. of East Carolina University. " I am very familiar with the SurgiFrost System and believe FrostByte has the potential to be a part of this accelerating technology." “As 50% of all surgical ablation procedures are performed with a clamp device, FrostByte will now allow us to compete more effectively for increased market share. Reinforcing this effort is our recently announced market access partner, ATS Medical,” said Steve Arless, President and CEO of CryoCath. “We are optimistic that FrostByte will have a strong impact in opening new accounts as it is the only two-in-one device that allows surgeons to perform all the required lesions to optimize patients outcomes. Moreover, with more than 250 centres around the world already using SurgiFrost, we are confident that FrostByte will also be routinely adopted in the existing installed base as well.” About SurgiFrost About FrostByte About Medtronic CryoCathCryoCath is a medical technology company that leads the world in cryotherapy products to treat cardiovascular disease. With a priority focus on providing physicians with a complete solution of catheter and surgical products to treat cardiac arrhythmias, CryoCath has multiple products approved in the U.S., across Europe and several ROW countries. The Company is developing additional products to expand its pipeline of products to treat cardiac arrhythmias and has development projects for the treatment of cardiac ischemia (angina) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). For further information, please contact:
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