MAQUET Cardiovascular signs a two-year contract with Novation

MAQUET Cardiovascular LLC, a leading provider of cardiovascular technologies, announced today that it has signed a guaranteed two-year contract with Novation, one of the nation's largest group purchasing organizations, to be the sole source provider of surgical devices for beating heart cardiac surgery.

Under the terms of the agreement, which runs through October 31, 2012, MAQUET Cardiovascular will be the exclusive provider of beating heart devices and disposable supplies to the members of VHA Inc. and University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC). Those members will now have access to all of MAQUET's beating heart products, including the industry-leading ACROBAT stabilizer system and the HEARTSTRING Proximal Seal System.

"Being named Novation's sole source provider for beating heart surgical devices is a testament to our comprehensive line of cardiac surgery devices," said Raoul Quintero, President of MAQUET Cardiovascular U.S. Sales LLC. "Our growing relationship with Novation recognizes MAQUET's product line as one of the most advanced cardiac patient care solution systems available, and we are eager to develop strong alliances with the members Novation serves."

Beating heart surgery, or off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) as it is also called, is performed without the use of a heart-lung machine, allowing the heart to continue beating during the surgical procedure. MAQUET's completely clampless beating heart products position and stabilize the heart, helping surgeons provide optimal outcomes for high-risk coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. MAQUET's stabilizers, positioners and anastomosis systems, which are devices that aid in sewing vessels onto the heart, are included in the agreement. These products are used in combination with MAQUET's market-leading VASOVIEW for endoscopic vessel harvesting.

"As a result of this agreement, the members of VHA and UHC will have access to the leading devices in this category with preferred pricing and service available from MAQUET," said Scott Crandall, Senior Director, Contract Services Cardiology at Novation.