Vycor Medical Continues to Build Its Sales and Marketing Infrastructure for Its ViewSite(TM) Neurosurgery Retraction Devices

BOHEMIA, NY–(Marketwire – September 21, 2010) –  Vycor Medical, Inc. (OTCBB: VYCO) (www.vycormedical.com), a medical device company that designs, develops and markets next generation neurosurgery retraction devices, today announced the appointment of a National Sales Director. Tom Bridges is a veteran sales and marketing executive with over 28 years of experience in the medical device industry. He has a proven track record of success in various markets such as cardiovascular surgery and critical care (American Edwards), neurosurgery (Image-Guided Neurologics, which was acquired by Medtronic, and StarFix), minimally invasive surgery (Unisurge and Innerdyne, which was acquired by US Surgical) and critical blood products (Haemonetics).

“We are delighted that Tom has joined us at Vycor,” commented Kenneth T. Coviello, Vycor Medical, Inc.’s CEO. “He brings tremendous experience in sales of devices critical to surgeons in the operating room, but also his own clinical experience as a US Naval Hospital Corpsman, which have provided him with the ability to build strong relationships with key physicians. Tom has also played a key role in new product development and introduction throughout his career and will continue to contribute in this way.”

ViewSite^™ Brain Access System (VBAS) medical device continues to gain US and international distribution with the addition of several new partners to its worldwide distributor network. In the US: Day Surgical, covering states in the northwest; Focus Group, covering Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky; and Novus Group, covering states in the southwest. Internationally: Xycorp, Inc. in Canada, PO Medica in Scandinavia and Aurora BioScience in Australia. Vycor’s distribution partnerships now cover approximately 70% of the US population and internationally its partnerships also encompass the Benelux, Spain, Italy, Greece, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. Vycor and its partner for China, Devon Medical, Inc., have recently completed the filing with China’s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) for the sale of VBAS in China.

“We are very excited with the growing recognition of our ViewSite retractor among highly respected distributors and surgeons,” notes Kenneth T. Coviello, Vycor Medical, Inc.’s CEO.

A paper recently issued by the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, reported that the use of VBAS during brain surgery “provides a unique means of deep visualization and even force distribution of the retracted brain tissue… allowing one to achieve safe access to deep intracerebral lesions and decrease the rate of retraction-related complications.” The paper also states that “although the retractors were originally designed for the removal of deep subcortical tumors they may be used to access and evacuate intracerebral hematomas.” A leading university teaching hospital has also submitted for publication an evaluation paper outlining its clinical experience with VBAS. Vycor anticipates that this will be published shortly.

VBAS was designed to offer better deep brain access by causing less tissue trauma and allows for excellent binocular visualization of the surgical target and surrounding tissue — objectives among neurosurgeons world-wide. Citing the critical need for such an advance, Coviello continues, “Most are shocked to learn that brain retraction technology has not significantly changed in over 50 years. Where other forms of diagnostic and operative procedures have evolved by leaps and bounds, this crucial instrument has remained virtually unchanged. It’s common knowledge among brain surgeons that existing ‘ribbon’ or ‘blade’ retractors can cause brain tissue damage and/or potentially prolonged patient recovery. Given the estimated 600,000 brain surgeries conducted annually worldwide, this is a very significant and sizeable problem that our VBAS is now directly — and aggressively — addressing through a solution that Vycor believes is also fiscally sound.”

About Vycor Medical, Inc.
With corporate headquarters in Bohemia, NY, Vycor Medical, Inc. (OTCBB: VYCO) is a medical device company committed to making brain, spinal and other surgical procedures safer and more effective. The company’s flagship, Patent Pending ViewSite™ Surgical Access Systems represent an exciting new breed of retraction technology that holds the potential for speedier, safer and more economical brain, spinal and other surgeries and a quicker patient discharge. Vycor’s innovative medical instruments are designed to optimize neurosurgical site access, reduce patient risk, accelerate recovery, and add tangible value to the professional medical community. Vycor is ISO 13485:2003 compliant, has FDA 510(K) clearance for brain and spine surgeries, and CE marketing and HPB licensing in Canada. 

For the latest information on the company, including media and other coverage, and to learn more, please go online at www.VycorMedical.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
Information in this document constitute forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “forecast,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “believe,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause Vycor Medical’s actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors are more fully discussed in Vycor Medical’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Vycor Medical herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by the abovementioned cautionary statement. Vycor Medical disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this estimate, except as may be required by law.