Angiotech Pharmaceuticals announces launch of Quill SRS product codes for laparoscopic gynecology ...( VANCOUVER Aug. 4 / Angiotech Pharmace...)

VANCOUVER, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) today announced the launch of a series of new, proprietary Quill(TM) SRS product codes specifically designed for laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, gynecology procedures, including hysterectomies and myomectomies. In 2008, there were approximately 750,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States of which approximately 130,000 were performed laparoscopically. In addition, there were approximately 72,000 myomectomies performed in the United States to remove uterine fibroid tumors. Management estimates 6-8% annual growth in laparoscopically assisted hysterectomies through 2014.

Angiotech's proprietary Quill SRS barbed suture technology offers significant advantages in laparoscopic surgery whether performed manually by surgeons or through robotic assistance. The primary advantage of Quill SRS for laparoscopic procedures is the ability to close a wound using Quill without the surgeon having to tie knots. The exercise of tying knots can be very challenging and time consuming when surgeons are relegated to operating in a smaller surgical field as a result of electing to use a minimally invasive approach for the procedure. A second advantage is to minimize or eliminate the need for a third hand to maintain tension on the suture as typically required with a traditional suturing technique in order to deal with tissue recoil. A third advantage of Quill SRS is that the even distribution of tension and its ability to maintain the tension along the length of the suture also provides hemostatic benefits, often eliminating or minimizing the need for standard hemostatic sutures.

These and other novel elements of Angiotech's Quill SRS for laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery are expected to significantly reduce the time and difficulty of completing a wound
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