Teleflex Acquires Ultimate Medical
US maker of medical devices for critical care and surgery Teleflex has announced it has acquired the assets of Ultimate Medical and its affiliates. Ultimate Medical is a leading supplier and innovator of airway management devices with a portfolio of patented products and a full range of laryngeal mask airways.
Ultimate Medical developed the Cuff Pilot brand, the world's first integrated cuff pressure indicator for single-use airway management devices. This novel technology is a single-use device and it provides constant inside-the-cuff pressure indication, allowing for at-a-glance clinical assessments.
The Cuff Pilot technology is currently used with Ultimate Medical's portfolio of laryngeal masks and has potential application for use with Teleflex's market leading brand of LMA laryngeal masks (pictured).
Teleflex has had a development partnership with Ultimate Medical since April 2010 related to the integration of cuff pressure technology into some products and currently distributes Ultimate's portfolio of laryngeal masks in select international markets.
In addition to the Cuff Pilot technology, the acquisition of Ultimate Medical further supports Teleflex's strategy to grow global supraglottic airway procedural usage by expanding their LMA portfolio to include a full range of silicone laryngeal masks and other complimentary products. The transaction also brings innovative technologies and intellectual property that is expected to bring value to Teleflex outside of the airway management device portfolio.
"We consider the acquisition of Ultimate Medical to be a perfect match," said Liam Kelly, executive vice president, president, international. Added Kelly, "The acquisition of Ultimate Medical was a logical step after we acquired The Laryngeal Mask Company and its affiliates last year. This acquisition provides Teleflex with additional innovative, and cost-effective, airway management options for our customers and underscores our commitment to leadership in airway management medical devices."
The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
On June 10, 2013, Teleflex received FDA 50k clearance to market its Arrow NextStep brands of retrograde femoral length dialysis catheters. The catheters are reportedly designed for clinician ease of insertion and sustained high flow rates.
"Providing clinicians with the Arrow NextStep femoral length catheters continues a series of new product introductions that demonstrates our commitment to enhance patient outcomes and improve ease of use for clinicians," said Linda Beneze, president and general manager, specialty division.
The catheter is an addition to Teleflex's haemodialysis catheter portfolio. It is said to be the first of its kind which has been designed to take better advantage of the blood flow dynamics within the heart through a "unique reversed port configuration", where the venous port resides in the superior vena cava and the arterial port in the right atrium, resulting in reduced recirculation and high flow rates. The unique NextStep Tip is designed for smooth, over-the-wire transitions during catheter insertions and exchanges.