EDISON, N.J. and NORCROSS, Ga., Nov. 15—International Technidyne Corp. (ITC), a subsidiary of Thoratec Corporation (NASDAQ: THOR), today announced that SurgiLance Inc. will become its semi-exclusive medical product distributor for the U.S. hospital market and a non-exclusive distributor in the alternate site market for ITC Tenderfoot® heelstick device for infants. 
Under terms of the agreement, SurgiLance will market their line of fingerstick devices with Tenderfoot®, focusing on large distributors including major medical product group purchasing organizations and integrated distribution networks. SurgiLance has a direct sales force and a telesales organization.
"This is an excellent growth opportunity that enables ITC to join forces with SurgiLance, a leader in the market for safety lancets," said ITC President Lawrence Cohen. "Surgilance's strong market coverage in the hospital sector will help ITC continue to grow Tenderfoot® in the U.S. medical product market."
"We are very pleased to be adding Tenderfoot® to our line of safety lancet products offered to U.S. hospitals and alternate site care facilities," said SurgiLance President and CEO Patrick Yi. "It is an innovative and well-positioned product for pediatric heelsticks that complements our safety-lancet line very well."
Tenderfoot® is a safe and effective method for obtaining blood samples from infants' heels. A surgical stainless steel blade pierces the skin at a controlled, standardized depth and makes the procedure virtually pain-free. The incision allows the blood to flow without squeezing the heel, thereby minimizing potential for bruising. The Tenderfoot blade permanently retracts after use to maximize safety for healthcare professionals.
ITC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thoratec Corporation and develops, manufactures and markets point-of-care (POC) medical devices and diagnostic tests in the hospital, alternate-care setting, such as physicians' offices, and also for patient self-testing.
The Hemochron® product line provides POC coagulation monitoring in operating rooms and cardiac catheterization labs. The Hemochron and ProTime® microcoagulation system product lines monitor the effect of oral anticoagulation with a simple-to-use instrument for POC, professionals and patient self-testing use. The Hgb Pro system is a hand-held, battery-powered meter for measuring total hemoglobin.
ITC is also the technology leader in precision, automated skin-incision technology and manufactures the Tenderlett®, Tenderfoot® and Surgicutt® products for fingerstick, infant-heel incision and bleeding-time measurements.
In 2003, ITC expanded its product line by acquiring the IRMA TRUpoint Blood Analysis System, a POC diagnostic system for intermittent blood-gas and electrolyte monitoring performed in the operating room or at the bedside.
Ed. note: This release was published prior to MediPurpose™ changing its name from its prior company name—SurgiLance—in 2006.
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