ATS Medical announces first ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis commercial implant in China

ATS Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI), manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products and services today announced the first commercial implant of the ATS 3f® Aortic Bioprosthesis was recently completed by Liu Zhi Gang, MD at Fu Wai Hospital in Beijing, China.  Fu Wai Hospital is the largest cardiac surgery center in Asia and a full line of ATS products are utilized by their surgeons.  ATS received permission from the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) to market the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis in March.

As part of the launch effort in China, Mr. Kulvinder Lall served as a proctor during the first case and facilitated hands-on training for a number of other surgeons.  Mr. Lall is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Royal Hospital of St. Bartholomew in London, England who has been implanting the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis since 2006.  

"The ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is much easier to implant than other stentless valves.  This is especially important in the small sizes," stated Dr. Liu.  A size 23 mm 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis was implanted with a resulting mean pressure gradient of 5 mmHg, which is considered an excellent hemodynamic performance for the smaller size aortic annulus.

Based on the precept that 'Form Follows Function,' the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is a revolutionary next generation stentless pericardial aortic tissue valve that is unlike any other valve.  It is designed to function just like a native valve.  Its tubular design was inspired by how a native valve forms in utero: as a tube with sides that collapse when external pressure is applied.  The primary benefit of the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis is that it restores physiologic, non-turbulent blood flow and native-like stress distribution to the aortic root.  This valve provides surgeons and patients a potentially more durable solution to aortic valve replacement.

"The first ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis implant at Fu Wai Hospital was a great success.  I believe that the ease of implantation and excellent haemodynamics, especially in the small aortas, makes this an ideal valve for the Chinese population," stated Mr. Lall.

"We are excited to expand our product portfolio in China to include the ATS 3f Aortic Bioprosthesis.  The tissue valve market in China nearly doubled in 2009 and is expected to continue this rapid growth.  China represents a significant portion of ATS Medical's current revenue in 2009 and is one of the most important growth markets in the world," stated Michael Dale, President and CEO of ATS Medical.