Cook Medical Announces Rapid Adoption Of Its Breakthrough EVOLUTION(R) Device Designed To Remove Faulty Pacemaker Leads

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 29 Aug 2008 - 4:00 PDT

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Cook Medical announced a significant milestone for its EVOLUTION® Mechanical Dilator Sheath technology, an innovative new tool designed to remove faulty, ineffective leads in patients with cardiac pacemakers. To date, 200 medical centers in the United States have adopted the breakthrough technology that utilizes venous entry during pacemaker lead extraction procedures. Cook's EVOLUTION has quickly proven to be an attractive alternative to current laser and other powered techniques as it is less invasive, more intuitive to use and approximately ½ the cost of laser-powered sheaths.

In the U.S., more than 20,000 to 25,000 leads are extracted annually. Prior to EVOLUTION, leads were removed either through laser extraction systems, manual dilator sheaths or with a 'snare' under local or general anaesthetic. These extraction methods had disadvantages in terms of cost, time and or potential patient adverse events. Designed with simplicity, effectiveness and ease-of-use in mind, EVOLUTION addresses the need for a viable alternative to laser powered extraction. The device is intended for use in patients requiring the percutaneous dilation of tissue surrounding cardiac leads, indwelling catheters and foreign objects and actually minimizes the risk of vascular perforations seen with laser powered sheaths utilizing a forward depth of cut.

"In less than one year, EVOLUTION has been embraced by some of the top medical facilities and surgeons in the country" said Lou Goode, president of Cook Vascular, manufacturer of the EVOLUTION device. "We believe that our advanced mechanical alternative ultimately decreases the amount of trauma caused to the patient, thereby reducing the potential risk of adverse events during the procedure. That is an important consideration for the 200 centers that have adopted Evolution's controlled mechanical powered technique."

As one of the only private companies in the cardiac medical device industry, Cook has the unique ability to remain agile in the research and development of new and advanced medical devices. As such, the company has achieved strong momentum in the space, most recently with the launch of EVOLUTION Shortie at Heart Rhythm 2008. The Shortie is a natural adjunct to EVOLUTION that employs a shorter length to enhance physician control and a specialized distal tip that enables physicians to succinctly negotiate through tough fibrous binding adhesions.

"Our mission at Cook is to deliver the best, most versatile devices that provide safe, timely and effective treatment for the patient and are easy-to-use for physicians, "added Goode. "We are thrilled that EVOLUTION has been welcomed into 200 facilities and we only expect that number to grow."

Cook's EVOLUTION is currently available in the United States, Europe and Canada.

About Cook Medical

Cook Medical was one of the first companies to help popularize interventional medicine, pioneering many of the devices now commonly used worldwide to perform minimally invasive medical procedures. Today, the company integrates minimally invasive medical device design, biopharma, gene and cell therapy, and biotech to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes in the fields of aortic intervention; interventional cardiology; critical care medicine; gastroenterology; radiology, peripheral vascular, bone access and oncology; surgery and soft tissue repair; urology; and assisted reproductive technology, gynecology and high-risk obstetrics. Founded in 1963 and operated as a family-held private corporation, Cook is a past winner of the prestigious Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Award from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine.

Cook Medical