Merit Medical Announces Advanced Interventional Cardiology Transradial Intervention Education Course

Featuring internationally recognized faculty, the course will provide operators the opportunity to advance their skills through didactic lectures, hands-on-training and complex case reviews.

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – July 27, 2017 – Merit Medical Systems, Inc., a manufacturer and marketer of proprietary disposable devices used primarily in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy, will partner with internationally renowned Interventional Cardiologist Ferdinand Kiemeneij, MD, PhD, to deliver the next generation in educational opportunities for Interventional Cardiologists and Interventional Radiologists.

Dr. Kiemeneij will serve as a co-proctor at the upcoming Advanced Transradial Intervention Education Course for Interventional Cardiologists, which will be held October 13-14, 2017, at the Merit Medical Education Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Sandeep Nathan, MD, MSc, FACC, FSCAI, an Associate Professor of Medicine, Director of Interventional Cardiology, and Co-Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, is the ThinkRadial™ Interventional Cardiology Course Director and Founder, and will co-proctor the Advanced IC training with Dr. Kiemeneij.

“We are excited to partner with Dr. Kiemeneij, one of the pre-eminent Interventional Cardiologists in the world. The advanced training course, which has been designed to help experienced Interventional Cardiologists continue to grow their practice, is the next logical step in Merit’s ThinkRadial initiative. Hundreds of physicians from across the globe have already attended one of our ThinkRadial training courses. This unparalleled educational opportunity will help attendees elevate their practices to the next generation of radial access,” said Fred Lampropoulos, Chairman and CEO of Merit Medical.

Acclaimed as the “Father of Transradial,” Dr. Kiemeneij, a Dutch Interventional Cardiologist, performed the first transradial coronary angioplasty in 1992 at the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, followed by transradial stenting in the same year and stenting on an outpatient basis in 1994. A sought-after instructor and lecturer, Dr. Kiemeneij serves as the Interventional Cardiology proctor for Merit’s ThinkRadial EMEA course and has trained countless physicians in transradial techniques over the years.

In addition to its ThinkRadial training program, Merit Medical offers a full line of tools for radial procedures, including the PreludeEASEtm Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer. Available in 4F to 7F sizes, featuring a hydrophilic coating that facilitates easier insertion and removal, specifically up to 30% less insertion force than the leading competitor, the PreludeEASE is suitable for use in a wide range of interventional and diagnostic procedures. It is available in multiple kit configurations and custom options to meet specific procedural needs.

Dr. Kiemeneij recently called the PreludeEASE the “ideal kit” for interventional procedures for distal transradial access, a new radial entry site in the hand. It combines “optimal 21-gauge needle, 0.018-inch metallic wire and hydrophilic sheath introducer.”

The PreludeEASE Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer is often used in conjunction with the PreludeSYNCtm Radial Compression Device, a safe, secure, personal and effective compression device to aid in achieving vascular hemostasis.

More information about Merit Medical’s Prelude line and other radial products, as well as other products used in interventional procedures, is available on the company’s website, www.merit.com. Information about instructional courses offered by Merit Medical is available atwww.Merit.com/Education.

About PreludeEASE

The PreludeEASE Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer helps achieve quick and reliable radial access while minimizing the potential for spasm with hydrophilic coating that extends to the tip of the sheath and excellent transitions for smooth insertion. PreludeEASE is available in 4F-7F. The product is available in multiple kit configurations as well as custom options to meet specific procedural needs.

The PreludeEASE maintains a robust design that resists kinking while still providing a large inner diameter. With a slim profile and large inner diameter for increased device compatibility, the PreludeEASE provides optimal dimensions without compromising integrity or performance.

About Merit Medical

Founded in 1987, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. is engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of proprietary disposable medical devices used in interventional, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, particularly in cardiology, radiology and endoscopy.  Merit serves client hospitals worldwide with a domestic and international sales force totaling approximately 290 individuals.  Merit employs approximately 4,500 people worldwide with facilities in South Jordan, Utah; Pearland, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; Malvern, Pennsylvania; Rockland, Massachusetts; San Jose, California; Maastricht and Venlo, The Netherlands; Paris, France; Galway, Ireland; Beijing, China; Tijuana, Mexico; Joinville, Brazil; Markham, Ontario, Canada; Melbourne, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; and Singapore.