Study Data Shows VNUS ClosureFAST(TM) Catheter More than 96%...( Distinguished Physicians' Panel at A...),Health

Distinguished Physicians' Panel at American Venous Forum Presents Clinical Trial Results Confirming Efficacy, Greater Patient Comfort Than Laser

SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VNUS(R) Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNUS), a worldwide leader in medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux disease, today presented positive clinical performance data for the VNUS ClosureFAST(TM) catheter at the 20th annual meeting of the American Venous Forum in Charleston, South Carolina. An international panel of distinguished physicians presented clinical trial results and perspectives affirming the efficacy and patient comfort levels of endovenous radiofrequency (RF) vein ablation using VNUS ClosureFAST. The ClosureFAST catheter, in a procedure often performed in the physician's office, heats and seals the diseased leg veins that cause the varicose veins afflicting more than 25 million Americans.

Prof. Dr. Thomas M. Proebstle of Heidelberg, Germany presented one-year followup data from a prospective, multi-center study of the efficacy of the ClosureFAST catheter. Raymond G. Makhoul, M.D., of Richmond, Virginia presented results from the RECOVERY trial, a single-blinded, randomized trial comparing the ClosureFAST catheter with endovenous laser ablation in 62 limbs.

"Our study found the ratio of efficacy to side effects of the VNUS ClosureFAST catheter to be superior to any previous endovenous ablation device," said Dr. Proebstle. "In 223 cases where the ClosureFAST device was used, 96.7% of the veins remained sealed after one year using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Of my patients, only one in five experienced postoperative pain due to study treatment. The excellent clinical outcome, the spee
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