Medline to distribute anesthesia medical devices and single-use products in U.S. and Canada

Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement with te me na SAS to distribute Polymedic® brand regional anesthesia medical devices and single-use products in the U.S. and Canada. The agreement includes peripheral nerve blocks with and without stimulation, as well as newly designed ultrasound needles that provide clearer vision of the needle's tip for precise injection near nerves.

For regional anesthesia, which includes spinal blocks, epidural blocks and peripheral (arm, leg or head) nerve blocks, an anesthesiologist injects medication near a cluster of nerves to numb only the area of the body that requires surgery. Spinal and epidural blocks involve interrupting sensation from the legs or abdomen by injecting local anesthetic medication in or near the spinal canal. Other blocks can be performed for surgery on extremities, or limbs, blocking sensations from the arm or leg.

"We are excited to be partnering with te me na, as they have been serving the European market with these products for over 20 years," said Tim Finnigan, president of Medline's Anesthesia and Electrosurgical Division. "Regional anesthesia is a growing type of procedure in hospitals and surgery centers, and Polymedic will be a great addition to our current product tray offering."