Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 - (Page 84)

84 CLINICAL AND INDUSTRY NEWS MARCH 2008 Bayer HealthCare Affiliate MEDRAD and Possis Medical Sign Definitive Merger Agreement B ayer HealthCare affiliate MEDRAD, Inc., of Warrendale, PA and Possis Medical, Inc., of Minneapolis, MN, have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which MEDRAD will acquire Possis Medical in a cash tender offer for US$19.50 per share, or a total equity value of approximately US$361 million. The offer price represents a premium of approximately 39 percent over Possis Medical’s average closing price for the thirty days prior to February 8, 2008. The board of directors of Possis Medical has unanimously approved the transaction and resolved to recommend the offer to their shareholders. MEDRAD is a provider of contrast injection systems used to diagnose cardiovascular and other diseases. Possis Medical is a provider of mechanical thrombectomy devices used to treat narrowed or blocked arteries and veins. Possis Medical posted revenues of $67 million and employed approximately 280 people for its fiscal year ending July 31, 2007. Premiering in 1997, Possis Medical’s AngioJet ® Rheolytic™ Thrombectomy System is a mechanical thrombectomy system with FDA approval to remove large and small thrombus from coronary arteries, coronary bypass grafts, peripheral arteries and veins, A-V grafts and native fistulas. Possis Medical recently launched the AngioJet Ultra System, a new easierto-use drive unit. Used in diagnostic imaging, MEDRAD’s product offerings include a comprehensive line of vascular injection systems, magnetic resonance (MR) surface coils and patient care products, and equipment services. Total 2006 revenues were US$478 million. MEDRAD is an affiliate of Bayer AG and employs over 1,700. ■ Growing Mobile Cath Lab Market Leads to Expansion at Modular Devices Inc. Move to larger production facility will allow company to keep up with the growing demand for nobile and modular cardiac/vascular & EP lab rentals. C ontinuing to deliver upon its commitment to growth and innovation, mobile cath lab industry founder Modular Devices Inc. has moved into a new corporate office and production facility to meet the demands of a growing industry. The new corporate office is a completely remodeled 75,000-square-foot facility located at 6678 Guion Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, which will house all of the administrative, production, and engineering functions of the company in one central location. The company had previously operated out of a 15,000 square foot facility in Carmel, Indiana. The move into the larger facility will allow Modular Devices Inc. to expand into other growth areas supporting cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional, vascular and pediatric programs. “Our company has experienced phenomenal growth over the last 4 years,” says Greg Mink, CEO of Modular Devices Inc. “This new facility finally allows us room to not only meet the current demand, but also the strong market demand we forecast into the foreseeable future.” In 1987, Modular Devices Inc. founded the mobile cath lab industry. Modular Devices Inc. operates not only the largest selection of mobile labs for lease, but also offers an industry-exclusive modular lab design for customers who require a larger lab with easier access, especially designed for longer term leases and start-up programs. ■ GE Healthcare Works with Experts to Develop a Cardiac Vital Signs Educational Program for Clinicians G E Healthcare announced a new addition to their growing portfolio of continuing education offerings. “New Cardiac Vital Sign: Assess and Manage Stroke Volume” is an interactive program for clinicians on monitoring and managing stroke volume, which is becoming recognized as the “new cardiac vital sign” for assessing patient status. The online course is designed to help clinicians enhance patient care where non-invasive and invasive technologies are used, such as the ED, ICU, OB, Pediatrics, Telemetry, PACU, Pre-hospital, Cath labs, Cardiac Care, MICU and SICU. Clinicians can use stroke volume measurement as a tool to help them assess and proactively manage patients. Building on a solid foundation of evidence-based medicine and the results of research done with non-invasive and invasive technologies, noted critical care and hemodynamic monitoring experts and founders of the ICU-USA online learning platform, Thomas Ahrens, DNS, RN, CCNS, FAAN and Robert Taylor, MD, FCCM, FCCP present dynamic, interactive courses addressing significant patient care issues. This self-paced program models actual clinical applications and outcomes, giving the clinician an interactive learning experience, such as allowing clinicians to enter a “virtual” hospital to assess and treat patients. The course uses “virtual reality” patient rooms supplemented with a comprehensive “virtual library” to aid clinicians in researching their clinical decisions. Ahrens and Taylor provide a look at patient care from the perspective of nurses and physicians. Taylor said, “Many clinicians do not fully understand the fundamental concepts of hemodynamic monitoring and, often, experts disagree on therapeutic strategies for hemodynamic profiles.” Continued on next page

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008 Are You Being Paid Fair Market Value in 2008? A Cardiac Cath Lab Professionals Survey by Cath Lab Digest and the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals Saint Joseph’s Hospital Invasive Imaging Tools for Optimizing Coronary Stent Deployment Contents Clinical Editor’s Corner A Workflow Revolution in Cath Lab Reporting Advantages of a New Digital Lab at Baystate Medical Center Cardiac Computed Tomography: What Does it Mean for the Cath Lab? The Latest in Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Cellular Cardiomyoplasty and Cardiac Regeneration Intravascular Ultrasound in the Cath Lab: A Powerful — and Underutilized — Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes The Stentplus™ Patient Success Program Cardiac Cath Lab Clutter — or, Spring into Action! Groin Bleeds and Other Hemorrhagic Complications of Cardiac Catheterization: A List of Relevant Issues Ask the Clinical Instructor: A Q&A Column for Those New to the Cath Lab What Do You Think? Experience with a New Guidewire: The Terumo Runthrough NS The Ostial Pro™ Stent Positioning System: Perfecting Aorto-Ostial Stent Placement Precious Minutes The Ten-Minute Interview with…Mark Bowles, BSN, CCRN Vascular Care in the Cath Lab: Planning a Smooth Transition Cath Laughs CMS 2008 OPPS Final Rule Review An Extensive Set of Review Courses for the CCI Basic Science, Non-Invasive Echocardiography and Vascular, and ARDMS Ultrasound Exams Meetings Calendar CEU Education Center Clinical & Industry News STEMI Interventions Classifieds Advertisers Index

Cath Lab Digest - March 2008

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