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

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 05 Apr 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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FoxHollow Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: FOXH), today announced the launch of the company's latest advancement in plaque excision technology: the SilverHawk(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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 http://www.foxhollowtech.com.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release regarding FoxHollow's business that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Specifically, the company's statement on future technological advancements expected to be made to the SilverHawk Plaque Excision System is a forward-looking statement involving risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current, preliminary expectations, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the results predicted and which are included under the caption, "Factors Affecting Future Operating Results," in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. This annual report was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2007, and is available on our investor relations website at http://investor.foxhollowtech.com and on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. FoxHollow undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

FoxHollow Technologies, Inc.
http://www.foxhollowtech.com/