REDWOOD CITY, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Perclose, Inc. (Nasdaq: PERC),
the leading manufacturer and marketer of surgical arterial closure devices,
announced today that it has successfully completed a human clinical trial of
The Closer(TM) 6F, a new version of its percutaneous vascular surgery (PVS)
device.  The clinical trial data was included in a Pre-Market Approval
Supplement (PMAS) application to the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for commercial sale in the United States.  The 200
patient clinical trial was successfully conducted at five leading
cardiovascular centers.  The results of the trial will be presented at an
upcoming scientific meeting.
    Hank Plain, Perclose's president and chief executive officer, commented,
"The Closer was developed by our engineering team as 'Project Slim' because of
its sheathlike design.  We are excited about the reduction in operator time
and training requirements, and the improvements in ease of use that this
device offers.  Based on the very positive clinical trial results and feedback
from users, we believe that the new features of this device will allow an even
broader group of patients to benefit from a suture-based arterial access site
closure."
    Dr. John B Simpson, Ph.D., M.D., Perclose's founder and chairman, stated,
"The Closer was developed with the direct feedback from our clinician users.
This latest innovation reinforces Perclose's leadership in technology
innovation and commitment to the medical community and their patients."
    Additional clinical studies of this product cannot commence until the
company receives approval of a regulatory application from the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA).  FDA approval will be required for commercial sales
in the United States.
    Perclose, based in Redwood City, Calif., designs, manufactures and markets
less invasive medical devices that automate the surgical closure or connection
of blood vessels.  The Prostar(R) and Techstar(R) products, marketed in the
U.S. and internationally, surgically close the arterial access site in the
femoral artery following catheterization procedures such as angioplasty,
stenting, atherectomy and diagnostic angiography.  The patented, proprietary
Prostar and Techstar products offer more rapid recovery and a more
cost-effective alternative to the standard method of closing arterial access
sites.  The Heartflo(TM) System, which is designed to automate the surgical
connection of blood vessels during conventional and minimally invasive
coronary artery bypass surgery, is in development.  The first generation of
this device is in human clinical testing outside of the U.S.  Perclose common
stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol PERC.
    Certain statements in this news release, including statements relating to
the Company's growth, profitability and financial results and the Company's
product development efforts, contain forward-looking information.  The
Company's actual results may differ from those anticipated by such
forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties, including the risk
that new products may not prove to be safe or effective in clinical trials,
risks associated with receipt and timing of regulatory approvals, including
approvals to conduct clinical trials and to market products commercially,
market acceptance of the Company's products, risks of adverse determinations
in litigation relating to patents and intellectual property rights, risks
associated with manufacturing scale-up and increases in production volumes,
risks associated with manufacturing scale-up and increases in production
volumes, risks associated with product recalls and the management of growth
and other risks, including those set forth in the Company's periodic filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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