FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) today announced that the GORE® Hybrid Vascular Graft was awarded Gold Winner in the Implant and Tissue-Replacement Products category of the 2012 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) competition. The Gore Device is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) vascular prosthesis that provides a streamlined solution for challenging dialysis access, aortic debranching, and arterial bypass procedures. The award-winning prosthesis provides a new way in for better outflow and the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes.

“This is a golden win and an example of our commitment to providing superior performance through design”

The MDEA winners were selected through a comprehensive review by an impartial, multidisciplinary panel of third-party jurors with expertise in biomedical engineering, clinical practice, diagnostics, human factors, industrial design, manufacturing, and medicine. Entries were evaluated on the basis of their design and engineering features, including innovative use of materials, user-related functions that improve healthcare delivery and change traditional medical attitudes or practices, features that provide enhanced benefits to the patient, and the ability of the product development team to overcome design and engineering challenges to meet its clinical objectives.

The GORE Hybrid Vascular Graft combines several trusted Gore technologies. The ePTFE vascular prosthesis has a section reinforced with nitinol that is partially constrained to allow for easy insertion and deployment into vessels that are difficult to reach or in challenging anatomical locations. It is the only combination graft that incorporates CARMEDA® BioActive Surface (CBAS® Surface) end-point immobilization of heparin to the luminal surface, resulting in a proven thromboresistant surface.

“This is a golden win and an example of our commitment to providing superior performance through design,” said Chuck Biggerstaff, associate with the Gore Venous Access Business. “The GORE Hybrid Vascular Graft is an innovative, versatile device that expands treatment options and improves patient outcomes.”

ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES

The Gore Medical Products Division has provided creative therapeutic solutions to complex medical problems for more than 35 years. During that time, more than 30 million innovative Gore Medical Devices have been implanted, saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide. The extensive Gore Medical family of products includes vascular grafts, endovascular and interventional devices, surgical meshes for hernia repair, soft tissue reconstruction, staple line reinforcement and sutures for use in vascular, cardiac and general surgery. Gore was recently named one of the best companies to work for by Fortune magazine for the 15th consecutive year. For more information, visit www.goremedical.com.

Products listed may not be available in all markets. GORE® and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates. CARMEDA® and CBAS® are trademarks of Carmeda AB, a wholly owned subsidiary of W. L. Gore & Associates.

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