NHS National Innovation Centre Cites VNUS Closure(R) Procedure as Select Innovative Technology
April 03 2009 - 3:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Varicose Veins to be showcased at
National Health Service EXPO SAN JOSE, Calif., April 3
/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
announced that the UK NHS National Innovation Centre has identified
the VNUS Closure(R) procedure as a select innovative technology
that is bringing benefits to National Health Service (NHS)
hospitals and patients. The VNUS Closure procedure is a minimally
invasive treatment for patients suffering with symptomatic varicose
veins and venous reflux, and has been demonstrated in numerous
comparative studies to offer advantages over conventional vein
stripping surgery. The technique will be showcased at the NHS EXPO
Meeting on June 18-19, 2009. "Our treatment alternative has enabled
many NHS Trusts to perform a very common operation virtually
pain-free in a simple treatment room in around 30-40 minutes
without a general anaesthetic or overnight stay," said Michael
Branagan-Harris, UK Managing Director for VNUS Medical Technologies
UK Ltd. "This in turn has enabled hospitals to save money by
freeing up expensive resources such as operating theatres, ward
beds and staff for more invasive procedures." "It is clear that by
freeing up hospital operating theatres and reducing both treatment
and recovery times, this technique offers significant benefits for
both the patient and the NHS," said Mr. Brian Winn, Head of
Technology & Product Innovation at the NHS National Innovation
Centre. "In my view the VNUS Closure procedure is the preferred
technique to treat venous reflux because it requires no special
modifications to operating areas, is well tolerated by patients,
requires minimal post-procedure analgesia and is highly effective
at permanently closing the vein," said Ian Franklin, Consultant
Vascular Surgeon from Charing Cross NHS Hospital & Imperial
College London. Varicose veins are caused by increased pressure in
the legs as a result of venous reflux and faulty valves in the leg
veins. Left untreated, venous reflux can lead to painful varicose
veins, swelling in the lower limbs, and skin problems, such as
itching, redness, eczema, and leg ulcers. For the past century, the
traditional treatment for varicose veins has been a technique
called vein stripping, which is carried out under general
anaesthesia in operating theatres, and sometimes involves an
overnight stay in a hospital bed. This treatment involves a groin
incision and the complete removal of the saphenous vein, and
recovery can be lengthy and uncomfortable. Surgeons in the NHS
perform around 37,000 varicose vein stripping procedures every
year. The VNUS Closure procedure consists of inserting a thin
radiofrequency (RF) catheter into the diseased vein through a small
incision. The catheter then heats the diseased vein sequentially in
7-centimeter segments, sealing it from the inside and effectively
closing it down. Blood returning to the heart then naturally
reroutes through healthy veins containing normal valves. "We are
delighted that the NHS National Innovation Centre is showcasing our
technology at the forthcoming EXPO meeting, and appreciate their
support in driving the acceptance and adoption of our innovative
treatment through NHS Hospitals across the UK," said Brian Farley,
President and CEO of VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. "With the
support of the NHS, Charing Cross NHS Hospital in London and Ian
Franklin, we are continuing our programs to train more surgeons in
the VNUS Closure procedure so that more UK patients can benefit
from this proven technology." Additional information about the VNUS
Closure Procedure can be found at http://www.vnus.com/. To learn
more about the NHS National Innovation Centre please visit
http://www.nic.nhs.uk/. ABOUT VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Jose, California, VNUS
Medical Technologies (NASDAQ:VNUS) is a worldwide leader in medical
devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux
disease. DATASOURCE: VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. CONTACT:
Michael Branagan-Harris, UK Managing Director of VNUS Medical
Technologies, Inc., +44 2380 111561, Web Site:
http://www.nic.nhs.uk/ http://www.vnus.com/
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