Cardica, Intuitive Surgical, MAQUET Cardiovascular and Transonic to Host 'Innovations in Revascularization'...( -- Event To Be Held May 12 at 6:00 ...),Health

-- Event To Be Held May 12 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time in Conjunction with

American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., SUNNYVALE, Calif., SAN JOSE, Calif. and ITHACA, N.Y., May 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardica, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRDC), Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISRG), MAQUET Cardiovascular LLC and Transonic Systems Inc. today announced they will host an evening symposium entitled "Innovations in Revascularization" in conjunction with the 88th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) in San Diego. During the symposium, leading cardiothoracic surgeons will discuss the benefits of using new technologies to facilitate off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) procedures, including minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery.

This educational event will take place on Monday, May 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. Pacific Time at the W Hotel San Diego and will feature "Enabling Technologies for Minimally Invasive Revascularization." Following presentations by the cardiothoracic surgeons, there will be an opportunity to meet the faculty. This activity is not part of the official scientific program of the AATS Annual Meeting.

"This educational forum is a tremendous opportunity for cardiothoracic surgeons to gain insight into the cutting-edge tools and techniques used to optimize beating-heart revascularization," said Mark W. Connolly, M.D., director of the department of cardiovascular thoracic surgery at Saint Michael's Medical Center in N
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