MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ATS Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATSI), manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art cardiac surgery products and services today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent number 7,594,974 regarding a novel method of cutting tissue materials for use in implantable devices.

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The patent, entitled "Method of Cutting Material for Use in Implantable Medical Device," was issued on September 29, 2009. This technology, also protected through several domestic and foreign patents, has been instrumental in the design and manufacture of the ATS 3f® based tissue products. The essence of the Company's technology enables the cutting of tissue material through a laser based system. The laser precisely cuts the source material to a predetermined pattern as designated by the user. The cutting energy of the laser is such that the cut edges of the material prevent the possibility of delamination or fraying. However, the communication of thermal energy to the material is controlled to minimize the effect to surrounding tissues. The patented method is an important factor in the manufacture and performance of tissue based implantable devices.

Michael Dale, President and CEO of ATS Medical, Inc. comments, "We are very pleased with the continued progress and protection regarding our key tissue technologies. ATS acquired a variety of intellectual property as part of the 3f® Therapeutics, Inc. acquisition, and we continue to broaden our technology and protection in all areas. We believe this technology has many applications throughout the areas of tissue based implantable devices."

About ATS Medical

ATS Medical, Inc. is dedicated to 'Advancing The Standards' of cardiac surgery through the development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative products and services for the treatment of structural heart disease. ATS Medical serves the cardiac surgery community by focusing on two distinct but operationally synergistic market segments: heart valve disease therapy and surgical ablation of cardiac arrhythmias.

ATS was originally founded to develop the ATS Open Pivot® Heart Valve as a new mechanical heart valve standard of care. Today the ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve is the preferred mechanical heart valve in many markets around the world and the fastest growing mechanical prosthesis in the market. Building on this legacy and addressing the largest market segment in heart valve therapy, the ATS 3f® brand encompasses an innovative tissue heart valve portfolio to address conventional open surgery requirements as well as the growing demand for less invasive sutureless based procedures. The ATS 3f® portfolio includes offerings at various stages including early product development, pivotal clinical trials, and market commercialization. Completing the portfolio in heart valve therapy is the ATS Simulus® annuloplasty product line. Simulus products assist the surgeon in repairing a patient's native heart valve as an alternative to replacement. Continuing ATS Medical's focus on serving the cardiac surgery community are the ATS CryoMaze® products for surgical cryoablation of cardiac arrhythmias. ATS CryoMaze® products are used by surgeons to treat patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias, the largest and fastest growing form of structural heart disease in populations over 60 years of age. The ATS Medical web site is http://www.atsmedical.com.

Cautionary Statements

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements that may include statements regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors, including the results of clinical trials, the timing of regulatory approvals, the impact of pending healthcare reforms, regulatory actions, competition, pricing pressures, supplier actions and management of growth. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's activities and results, please refer to the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

SOURCE ATS Medical, Inc.