Bloomington, Ind., October 9, 2009 — Fertility and reproductive specialists are invited to join a live, online chat event entitled, “Transvaginal Ultrasound Transfers” at www.CookARTLab.com. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET and led by Dr. Marwan M. Shaykh, an expert in the field of fertility with an emphasis on assisted reproductive technologies (A.R.T.).

During the live chat, Dr. Shaykh will provide an overview of procedures and techniques used for embryo transfer under transvaginal ultrasound guidance. Participants will walk away from the live chat event with and understanding of the benefits of transvaginal ultrasound guidance over the blind clinical touch or the abdominal ultrasound guidance procedures. Dr. Shaykh will also review the role of the appropriate catheter for embryo transfer under vaginal ultrasound guidance.

“Since the embryo transfer process plays such a significant role in a successful assisted reproduction cycle, I am excited to share with fertility and reproductive specialists the most recent research on the ultrasound method and its rate of success,” said Dr. Marwan M. Shaykh, Director of the Assisted Fertility Program in Jacksonville, Fla. “The live chat will deliver effective techniques and relevant research to specialists performing embryo transfers, while enabling an interactive discussion between colleagues.”

Following Dr. Shaykh's presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to ask specific questions about best practices, execution and success rates for the procedure. Those planning to join the chat are encouraged to post questions within the discussion forum on www.CookARTLab.com ahead of the event.

About Dr. Marwan M. Shaykh
Dr. Marwan M. Shaykh is the Director of the Assisted Fertility Program in Jacksonville, Fla. as well as a Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Florida, School of Medicine. Dr. Shaykh also serves as Associate Professor at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gyneocology, and a member of the Johns Hopkins Medical and Surgical Association and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Shaykh is a paid consultant for Cook Medical and will be reimbursed for his time and participation in the live chat session.

About CookARTLab.com
Launched in April, CookARTLab.com shows real-world demonstrations of ovum collection, sperm injection, embryo culture and embryo transfer, with guidance on how to optimize each step for improved pregnancy rates. The microsite also features a knowledge base with up-to-the minute links to the most current published research in A.R.T.; a discussion forum that allows professionals to exchange information and experiences; and a news center posting upcoming industry events – making the Cook site a centralized resource on breaking research and best practices for fertility and reproductive specialists. The live chat adds an interactive dimension to the site, enabling specialists to exchange information in real-time, regardless of their geographic location.

About Cook Medical
Cook Medical helped invent and popularize interventional medicine, pioneering many of the devices now commonly used worldwide to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body's vascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, urological and OB/GYN pathways. Today, the company integrates minimally invasive medical device design, biopharma, gene and cell therapy and biotech to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes in the fields of aortic intervention; interventional radiology; critical care medicine; gastroenterology; peripheral vascular medicine; bone access and oncology; interventional cardiology; general surgery and soft tissue repair; urology; and assisted reproductive technology, gynecology and high-risk obstetrics. Founded in 1963 and operated as a family-held private corporation focused on providing superior patient outcomes while reducing health care delivery costs, Cook is a past winner of the prestigious Medical Device Manufacturer of the Year Award from Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com. You may sign up to follow Cook Medical on Twitter at twitter.com/cookmedicalpr.