Leading Physicians Present Interim Results from Multi-Center Studies of VNUS ClosureFAST Catheter at VEIT...( SAN JOSE Calif. Nov. 14 /- VNUS(R...),Health

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VNUS(R) Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNUS), a worldwide leader in medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux disease, announced that interim results from two multi-center studies using the VNUS ClosureFAST catheter were presented today at the 34th Annual VEITH Symposium in New York. The VNUS ClosureFAST(TM) catheter is an endovenous radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter designed to heat and close diseased saphenous veins - the underlying cause of varicose veins.

In a presentation titled "ClosureFAST Is Better Than First Generation Radiofrequency Ablation: A Quantum Leap Forward", Alan Dietzek, MD., Chief of Vascular Surgery and Linda and Stephen R Cohen Chair in Vascular Surgery at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, presented one-year follow-up results of ClosureFAST patients from a multi-center prospective study including 13 centers in the US and Europe. Among 324 patients (395 limbs) in the study, 142 limbs had one-year followup data, with a vein occlusion rate of 96.2% at one year using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

"VNUS ClosureFAST is a major step forward in the management of venous disease," said Dr. Dietzek. "Results so far have exceeded expectations, especially the excellent treatment efficacy combined with very mild postoperative patient recovery. Furthermore, with ClosureFAST it is now possible to perform endovenous ablation of the saphenous vein as fast or faster than with any other device or mode of treatment available."

Jose I. Almeida, MD., FACS, founder of the Miami Vein Center in Miami, Florida and a recognized expert in varicose vein treatment, presented the interim results of the Recovery trial, a
'/>"/>