ENTrigue announces first clinical experience with Ventera sinus dilation systems

ENTrigue Surgical, Inc. ("ENTrigue"), a San Antonio, Texas-based company that designs, develops, manufactures and distributes medical devices used for Ear, Nose and Throat surgical procedures, announced today the first clinical experience with its Ventera™ sinus dilation systems.  The Company also announced that it will launch its Synaero™ Hemostatic Gel at the American Academy of Otolaryngology Annual Symposium and Exhibition ("AAO Meeting") in Boston, Massachusetts, September 26-29, 2010 attended by ENT surgeons from around the world.

The Ventera™ sinus dilation systems include a single-use balloon delivered by one of several reusable instruments utilizing ENTrigue's proprietary SerpENT® articulating technology and does not require the use of a guide wire or cannula for delivering the balloon into various sinuses.  The initial clinical cases were performed by Dr. Amin Javer, a world renowned rhinologist and Director of the St. Paul's Sinus Center in Vancouver, Canada.  ENTrigue is in an early-launch phase with the Ventera™ systems in Canada and plans to launch the systems to various European markets over the next few months.  The Ventera™ technology is not presently available for sale in the United States.

Dr. Javer remarked, "The Ventera systems offer an elegant and intuitive approach to sinus dilation.  I am excited about the potential these systems offer as minimally invasive tools for managing sinus disease."  

The Company's new Synaero™ product is a hemostatic gel used to control mucosal bleeding related to sinus surgery and was co-developed with HemCon Medical Technologies Inc., a leading global developer and manufacturer of hemorrhage control products headquartered in Portland, Oregon.  The Synaero™ Hemostatic Gel, as well as the Ventera™ sinus dilation balloon and related instruments, will be on display at the ENTrigue booth at the AAO Meeting.  

ENTrigue also announced the addition of John T. Treace to its Board of Directors.  Treace is Sr. Vice President of Global Marketing and US Sales at Wright Medical Technology, Inc. in Arlington, Tennessee, and served as Director of Marketing for Medtronic ENT for several years prior to Wright.  He joins current Board members Fred Dinger, President & CEO; Donald Gonzales, M.D., Chief Medical Officer; Richard Emmitt of The Vertical Group; and Anthony Natale, M.D. of Prism VentureWorks.