Cook Inc.'s Zenith® Fenestrated Endograft Successfully Implanted in 1,000th Case to Treat Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Bloomington, IN - April 26, 2006 - Cook Incorporated, the largest privately held medical device manufacturer in the world, today announced the 1,000th endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) case in which its Zenith® Fenestrated Endograft has been successfully implanted in the treatment of a patient with a complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The 1,000th procedure was performed at the University of California San Francisco, by a team led by vascular surgeon Timothy Chuter, M.D., and Darren Schneider, M.D., vascular surgeon and interventional radiologist.

Cook's fenestrated endograft is the first in the world to incorporate tailored openings - either as semi-circular scallops or full-circular openings called fenestrations - in the top section of the endograft. This allows the self-expanding fabric-covered stent-graft to treat aortic and aortoiliac aneurysms extending close to the renal and superior mesenteric arteries, which are then stented to reduce the risk of restricting or blocking critical blood flow to the kidneys and bowel. Each fenestrated device is custom-made to suit individual patients' anatomy by Cook's endograft manufacturing division in Australia.

"Cook's Zenith Fenestrated Endovascular Graft has performed remarkably well, from procedure one to the thousandth," said Roy Greenberg, M.D., director of endovascular research at Cleveland Clinic. "The patient outcomes we've experienced using Cook's fenestrated endograft have enabled us to treat a wider range of patients."

Cook, in conjunction with a number of world-renowned vascular surgeons discussed the global results of the first 1,000 fenestrated endograft cases at the 28th Annual Charing Cross Symposium in London on April 10. Michael Lawrence-Brown, Ph.D., Dr. Greenberg, Giovanni Torsello, M.D. and Krassi Ivancev, M.D. highlighted the outcomes of the procedures conducted with the Zenith Fenestrated Endograft. Dr Ivancev also discussed the future potential for fenestrated stent grafts.

"With this exciting milestone, Cook is leading the way for better treatment of AAAs. The Zenith Fenestrated AAA Endovascular Graft brings the advantages of EVAR treatment to a broader set of patients - those with highly demanding aneurysms who previously may not have been candidates for traditional endovascular repair," said Barry Thomas, global leader of Cook's endovascular therapy products division. "We expect the Zenith Fenestrated Endograft to continue to provide physicians an important new option for treating AAA patients who cannot be treated using standard, off-the-shelf endograft components."

Cook's Zenith Fenestrated AAA Endovascular Graft is an investigational device not available for sale in the U.S. It has regulatory approval for sale in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and other major markets. For more information, visit www.zenithstentgraft.com.

Cook would also like to recognize John Anderson, M.D., a proponent of EVAR who has successfully implanted Cook's Zenith Fenestrated Endograft in multiple cases.

About Dr. Roy Greenberg, M.D.
Dr. Greenberg is the director of endovascular research at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic. Dr Greenberg has coordinated a number of national and international investigational trials designed to evaluate endovascular devices, particularly those associated with the repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Dr. Greenberg receives royalties from Cook related to intellectual property he developed. He is also a paid consultant for Cook.

About Cook Incorporated
With international headquarters in Bloomington, Ind., COOK® (www.cookgroup.com), the world's largest privately held medical device manufacturer, is a leading designer, manufacturer and global distributor of minimally invasive medical device technology for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Since its founding in 1963, COOK has created innovative technologies for stents and stent-grafts, catheters, wire guides, introducer needles and sheaths, embolization coils, medical biomaterials, vena cava filters, implanted cardiac lead extraction equipment and other minimally invasive medical devices.

MEDIA CONTACT:
David McCarty
Director of Public Relations
Cook Incorporated - 812-339-2235 ext. 2387
Email: dmccarty@cook-inc.com

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