ATLANTA, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY),
announced today that it achieved an industry milestone when it received tissue
from its 100,000th individual donor. The tissue, received January 14, 2009
came from a Kansas-based organ and tissue procurement organization.
Since 1984, through the generosity of donor families and with the support
of the organ and tissue procurement organizations, CryoLife has been able to
provide more than 160,000 cryopreserved tissues for transplant.
More than 40 percent of the cardiac tissue preserved by CryoLife is
implanted into children for whom the availability of cryopreserved allograft
tissue can provide the best chance for a normal, active lifestyle. In
addition, cryopreserved allograft vascular tissues have enabled patients with
impaired circulatory systems to avoid lower limb amputations.
"It has been very gratifying to be able to provide life-saving and
life-enhancing tissues to so many patients over the years," said Steven G.
Anderson, president and CEO of CryoLife, "However, none of our work would be
possible without the generosity of donors and their families who give so
selflessly at a time of personal tragedy. We are grateful to the many people
who register as organ and tissue donors. Their kindness is awe-inspiring."
CryoLife encourages everyone to support their local organ or tissue
procurement organizations and health care professionals in their efforts to
provide increased awareness of organ and tissue donation options. For
additional information about organ donation, contact your local organ or
tissue procurement organization or the American Association of Tissue Banks at
www.aatb.org.
About CryoLife
Founded in 1984, CryoLife, Inc. is a leader in the processing and
distribution of implantable living human tissues for use in cardiac and
vascular surgeries throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Company has received
FDA clearance for the CryoValve(R) SG pulmonary human heart valve, processed
using CryoLife's proprietary SynerGraft(R) Technology. The Company's
BioGlue(R) Surgical Adhesive is FDA approved as an adjunct to sutures and
staples for use in adult patients in open surgical repair of large vessels.
BioGlue is also CE marked in the European Community and approved in Canada and
Australia for use in soft tissue repair. CryoLife distributes Hemostase MPH,
a hemostatic agent, in much of the U.S. for use in cardiac and vascular
surgery and in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Canada for cardiac,
vascular, and general surgery, subject to certain exclusions. The Company
also distributes the CryoLife-O'Brien(R) Stentless Porcine Aortic
Bioprosthesis, which is CE marked for distribution within the European
Community.
For additional information about the Company, visit CryoLife's Web Site:
http://www.cryolife.com.
SOURCE CryoLife, Inc. - 01/21/2009
CONTACT: Dr. Ashley Lee, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Operating Officer of CryoLife, Inc., +1-770-419-3355, or
Katie Brazel, of Fleishman Hillard, +1-404-739-0150
Web Site: http://www.aatb.org.
http://www.cryolife.com
(CRY)
