Bloomington, Ind., August 21, 2006 – A Canadian radiologist has successfully performed the first human implantation of Cook’s next-generation retrievable vena cava filter in North America. The Cook Celect™ Vena Cava Filter was used on a 44-year old female patient hospitalized originally for kidney stones and re-admitted for treatment of a pulmonary embolism (PE). The procedure was conducted by Murray Asch M.D., FRCPC, director of interventional radiology, and supported by an interventional team of nurses and technologists at Lakeridge Health Oshawa in Ontario, Canada.

“We are thrilled to be using Cook’s Celect Vena Cava Filter, which performed remarkably well in this procedure,” said Dr. Asch. “Advancements employed by Celect enabled picture-perfect deployment and placement of the device. Going forward, Celect will enable us to treat a broader set of patients – some that may require device retrieval after an extended period of time and others that may need a permanent device implant.”

The Celect Vena Cava Filter, which is engineered specifically to enhance the filter’s retrievability, is based on Cook’s proven Günther Tulip Vena Cava Filter design, one of the world’s leading devices of its kind. In animal trials, the Celect filter has been retrieved without difficulty or complication after being implanted for more than one year, which may prove beneficial to human patients whose risk of pulmonary embolism has lessened sufficiently over time to allow the filter to be withdrawn.

“Cook’s Celect Vena Cava filter, which is built on the proven strengths of our Tulip filter, includes new features to improve device centering in the blood vessel and enhancements that have dramatically extended retrieval time,” said Bruce Fleck, global product manager. “Celect breaks through standard retrieval time limitations, providing physicians with a greater number of choices in how to best prevent PE’s in patients.”

About Cook
The world’s largest privately held manufacturer of medical devices with international headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., COOK® (www.cookmedical.com) is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, Cook has created innovative technologies for drug-eluting and bare metal stents, aortic and vascular endografts, catheters, wire guides, introducer needles and sheaths, embolization coils, medical biomaterials and contract manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, vena cava filters and other minimally invasive medical devices for radiology, cardiology, urology and women’s health, critical care medicine, surgery, gastroenterology, bone access and endovascular therapies.