Teleflex strengthens Anesthesia product portfolio

Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), a leading global provider of medical devices for critical care and surgery, announced it has acquired the EZ-Blocker^TM disposable catheter product line with a unique bifurcated distal end, a novel and patented bronchial blocker for lung isolation and one-lung ventilation. The acquisition is consistent with the company's strategy to invest in late-stage, innovative technology to support its future growth.    

The EZ-Blocker, a 7 Fr., 4 lumen, 75 cm, disposable catheter, is designed to enable easy, quick placement with minimal risk of dislocation during surgery, which supports patient safety and allows for simplified performance of bilateral procedures without the disadvantages of existing devices for lung isolation and one lung ventilation. Lung isolation is used to achieve one-lung ventilation to facilitate a variety of thoracic surgical procedures and treatment of conditions of the lungs, heart, chest wall and diaphragm. With the acquisition of EZ-Blocker, Teleflex strengthens its Anesthesia product portfolio.

EZ-Blocker has CE Mark approval in Europe and is indicated for a variety of thoracic and cardio-thoracic surgical procedures, as well as thoracic diseases. Teleflex expects to begin product shipments in Europe during the second quarter of 2012. In the United States, a 510(k) application has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is pending clearance.

"EZ-Blocker is designed to provide benefits that overcome the significant drawbacks of currently used products for the lung isolation procedure, namely its use in combination with a standard endotracheal tube and its easy and intuitive positioning over the carina," said Cary Vance, President, Teleflex Anesthesia and Respiratory.

Added Vance, "We believe EZ-Blocker is the most innovative bronchial blocker available and has the potential to improve patient outcomes during difficult procedures. It is also designed to be used with VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery), a minimally invasive surgical method that allows thoracic surgeons to perform a procedure through small openings."