November 11, 2009 04:30 PM Eastern Time 

Covidien Introduces First FDA-Approved Spine Sealant

NORTH HAVEN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of DuraSeal™ spine sealant, the first product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for intra-operative sealing of the dural membrane during spine procedures. Nearly 1.5 million spine surgeries are performed in the U.S. every year, with an estimated 10% of these surgeries requiring dural repair and sealing. Tears in the dura ─ the outermost membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord ─ can result in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leaks after surgery, leading to possible medical complications and extended hospital stays. One recent study found that CSF leaks after spinal surgery are estimated to cost an average of $6,479 in additional expense, mainly due to longer hospital and intensive care unit stays.¹

“DuraSeal is a great example of how we develop solutions at Covidien”

In a clinical study of more than 150 patients, DuraSeal spine sealant was shown to be superior at achieving an intra-operative watertight seal, compared with the control group, which consisted of conventional methods of dural closure such as sutures or fibrin sealants. DuraSeal spine sealant achieved an intra-operative watertight seal 100% of the time, compared with 64% of the time by the control group. The safety results between the two groups were similar, given the patients’ medical conditions and the nature of the complex spinal procedures performed.²

The new sealant is a 100% synthetic hydrogel that provides excellent tissue adherence, is absorbed by the body and is easy to apply. Stored at room temperature, DuraSeal spine sealant takes only two minutes to prepare and three seconds to set, which enables surgeons to achieve an intra-operative dural seal quickly.

“DuraSeal is a great example of how we develop solutions at Covidien,” said Dr. Michael Tarnoff, Chief Medical Affairs Officer, Surgical Devices, Covidien. “We observe the challenges that surgeons face in the operating room and work with the medical community to come up with innovative products that may optimize patient outcomes, can improve healthcare economics and are intuitive for surgeons and their teams to use.”

The DuraSeal spine sealant system was introduced today at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting in San Francisco and last month at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons in New Orleans. For further information, please visit www.durasealspine.com.

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2008 revenue of $10 billion, Covidien has more than 41,000 employees worldwide in 59 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

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