Medtronic signs exclusive distribution agreement with Miami Instruments

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced that it has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Miami Instruments, LLC - a company focused on the design of innovative surgical instruments for minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) procedures - and has introduced the company's first two products in the U.S.

“This agreement will allow us to continue providing physicians with the most innovative minimally invasive heart valve replacement and repair technologies.”

The first products launched are the Joseph Lamelas Knot Pusher™, which is designed to simplify the delivery and tying of secure suture knots in the heart during MICS procedures, and the Joseph Lamelas Atrial Lift System™, which is used to retract the atrial wall during limited-access cardiac surgical procedures. These products are registered with the FDA and are available for use in the U.S.

Each year more than 400,000 heart valve repair and valve replacement procedures are performed throughout the world. These procedures are typically performed through open-heart surgery, which requires a surgical incision through a patient's breastbone and the use of a heart-lung machine. Today, specially trained cardiac surgeons are performing heart valve repairs and replacements using MICS, and these techniques allow access to the heart through smaller incisions using specialized, minimally invasive surgical instruments and without separating the breastbone. MICS procedures typically allow for reduced blood loss during surgery, quicker patient recovery times and shorter hospital stays.

"Medtronic is pleased to join with Miami Instruments to bring cardiac surgeons the specialized surgical instruments they need to perform MICS procedures on behalf of their patients," said John Liddicoat, senior vice president, Medtronic and president of the Structural Heart business. "This agreement will allow us to continue providing physicians with the most innovative minimally invasive heart valve replacement and repair technologies."

These, and other Miami Instruments products in development, are disposable, single-use, devices designed by Joseph Lamelas, M.D., cardiac surgeon and chief of cardiac surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, and a founder of Miami Instruments.

"MICS procedures have become the preferred option for many patients who need heart valve repair or replacement surgery," said Dr. Lamelas. "This new collaboration with Medtronic will enable cardiac surgeons to use our advanced surgical instruments during these complex but highly beneficial procedures."