Hatch Medical Spin-off Signs Global Pact with Medical Device Technologies (MD TECH)
Atlanta, Georgia - Medical device incubator and technology brokerage firm, Hatch Medical, L.L.C. recently announced that Medical Device Technologies, Inc. (MD TECH) has licensed the manufacturing and global distribution rights to one of its spin-off companies, Fibrex, L.L.C., gaining access to a novel catheter patency device technology.
Under the terms of the agreement, MD TECH will manufacture the device at its Gainesville, Florida facility and distribute the product through its direct sales force and distributor network. Additional details of the agreement were unavailable.
"We are pleased to have secured such a strong partner for this exciting new technology. MD TECH is recognized as a world class manufacturer and a global distributor with tremendous depth and resources," commented Steven Hvozda, Executive Vice President, Hatch Medical.
Fibrex was spun-off from Hatch Medical's incubator group in 2001. The Fibrex™ device incorporates proprietary technology and design elements that, through mechanical means, non-invasively disrupt fibrin sheath formation on both the external and internal surface of vascular access catheters.
John Kaufman, M.D., Professor, Interventional Radiology, Dotter Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, commented, "Fibrex™ is a novel and unique means to non-invasively maximize the working life of existing central lines. The device is simply inserted through the catheter body, exiting via the distal lumen, and once deployed, coils around the distal exterior of the central venous line. The coil is manually actuated to achieve a "corkscrew" effect thereby stripping the catheter of the fibrinous film. This eliminates the additional cost and discomfort of the femoral vein puncture necessary for conventional catheter stripping."
Approximately 430,000 patients receive hemodialysis treatments globally. One of the challenges facing clinicians involved in the management of patients with hemodialysis catheters is maintaining safe, reliable access to the patient's bloodstream to deliver adequate dialysis.
Fibrin formation around the catheter is a common problem and eventually affects all existing catheters. This reaction occurs as a natural response to the presence of a foreign substance triggering the deposit of fibrin on the surface of the catheter. The resulting fibrin sheath occludes the side holes of the catheter and ultimately the end holes, rendering the catheter unusable.
"Dialysis catheter malfunction is a serious problem necessitating removal of as many as 28% of all dialysis catheters simply because they do not work", added Mr. Hvozda. "We are pleased to provide physicians with an efficient and economical alternative to restore catheter patency to those patients that urgently require venous access."
Michael Ryan, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, & Business Development for Medical Device Technologies, Inc., commented, "Fibrex™ is an exciting new technology and an evolutionary step forward in expanding the longevity of vascular access catheters. We are excited to partner with Hatch Medical and Fibrex on this innovative technology, and look forward to driving its success in the market."
MD TECH is a subsidiary of American Medical Instruments Holdings, Inc. (AMIH); an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry.
Hatch Medical jointly develops and brokers minimally invasive medical devices for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular and oncological disease through its network of product development experts.
For additional information on this, or other Hatch Medical, L.L.C. products and services, e-mail the company at info@hatchmedical.com. This release and additional news about Hatch Medical can be obtained by visiting the company's web site at: http://www.hatchmedical.com.
Contact Paul Gianneschi, President and CEO, 770-982-6306, or Steven Hvozda, Executive Vice President, Business Development 404-827-9778
Hatch Medical,
L.L.C.
Duluth, GA 30097
Phone: 770-476-9940
Facsimile: 770-476-7740
info@hatchmedical.com
© 2001 - 2008 Hatch Medical, L.L.C. - All rights reserved