EWI Announces Licensing Agreement with Creganna

Creganna to Use EWI Patented Technology to Join Nitinol with Other Medical Grade Metals

Technology to enable advanced solutions for the delivery of minimally invasive medical devices

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 15 -- EWI today announced Creganna Medical Devices has signed a license agreement to use the EWI patented technology that enables the joining of Nitinol to other ferrous metals. Creganna Medical Devices will apply the technology in the area of hypotube-based delivery shafts for minimally invasive medical devices. Delivery device shafts are the conduit between the physician and the medical device within the patient during a transcatheter procedure.

Nitinol device shafts offer unique design options to medical device manufacturers such as crush resistance and super-elastic behaviour but at a high cost. Other medical grade metals, such as stainless steel are most often used in minimally invasive delivery devices due to their lower cost and good overall trackability. Joining Nitinol to stainless steel presents a range of cost effective design options for the medical device manufacturer. This is the first time that such delivery shafts have become commercially available.

"This license agreement is our first step in commercializing this valuable technology with the medical community," said Henry Cialone, CEO and President of EWI. "This promises to be a clear win for the patients receiving these minimally invasive devices, as it provides them with a superior product at a lower cost to them and their insurance agency."

"We are excited about the potential of this breakthrough technology for our customers. It opens up a new range of design possibilities that enable the development of cost effective advanced delivery device solutions. A number of our customers are already exploring the potential of this new technology for their next generation delivery device," commented Michael Howe, Creganna Innovation Centre Manager.

About Creganna

Creganna Medical Devices provides leading edge technologies to minimally invasive medical device companies. Creganna provides catheter shaft components, sub-assemblies and design in a range of metals, polymers and composite materials. The company also provides a contract design service, specializing in the design and development of catheter based delivery systems. Creganna is a trusted supplier to the world's leading medical device manufacturers. The company is headquartered in Galway, Ireland and has sales and production facilities in Massachusetts, Minnesota, California and Finland. http://www.creganna.com/

About EWI

Based in Columbus, Ohio, EWI is North America's leading engineering and technology organization dedicated to welding and materials joining. EWI's staff provides materials joining assistance, contract research, consulting services and training to over 3,300 member company locations representing world-class leaders in the aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, government, heavy manufacturing, medical and electronics industries. For more information, please visit http://www.ewi.org/.

  For more information, contact:
  Maura Leahy, Creganna Medical Devices at
  +353 91 735229 (tel direct)
  +353 91 757850 (fax)
  maura.leahy@creganna.com

  Lisa Austin at
  614-688-5130 (tel)
  614-688-5001 (fax)
  lisa_austin@ewi.org (e-mail)