R. Lindholm Named to Crux Biomedical Board

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Crux Biomedical, developer of an advanced implantable vena cava filter (IVCF) to prevent pulmonary embolisms, announced the appointment of Randy Lindholm to its Board of Directors. Mr. Lindholm is a widely respected advisor to the medical device field. He was previously Chairman and CEO of Vidamed,  a maker of minimally invasive medical devices to treat benign prostate hyperplasia until it was acquired by Medtronic in 2002.  Prior to Vidamed, Randy held senior positions at Nellcor Puritan Bennett and GE Medical Systems. " I am excited to join Crux Biomedical. They are well positioned to take advantage of the current interest in a better performing retrievable IVC filter," stated Mr. Lindholm. He currently serves as director of publically held Omnicell (MLCL), Barrx Medical, Tibion Bionic Technologies, Estech and Novasys Medical.

"We are very pleased to have Randy's operating experience at Crux," states Mel Schatz, CEO of Crux Biomedical. He continued, "Randy has assisted numerous firms in securing venture backed funding."  Crux Biomedical is currently enrolling patients in its pivotal IDE study in the United States and several sites internationally. It expects to complete the U.S. study in 2011 and launch internationally  later this year.

Crux Biomedical was founded in 2004 by Thomas Fogarty, M.D., to target the development of an advanced implantable inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) to prevent the occurrence of potentially fatal pulmonary embolisms. Although routinely used in the United States, currently cleared IVC filters are associated with a variety of complications. "We recognized current IVC filters did not meet the needs of clinicians and designed a filter that provided better retrievability," stated Tom Fogarty, M.D.

Each year in the United States approximately 600,000 patients develop a PE and an estimated 200,000 deaths occur. Pulmonary embolisms are recognized as the most frequent cause of death among hospitalized patients.

Crux Biomedical is located in Menlo Park, California and is funded by Alloy Ventures and Emergent Medical Partners.

SOURCE Crux Biomedical