Leading healthcare products maker Covidien plc (COV) reported impressive results from a clinical study comparing its first powered surgical stapling system with a competing mechanical stapling device.
The study directly compared the iDrive powered handled stapler and Right Angle Linear Cutter (“RALC”) to Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) CONTOUR curved cutter stapler, a commonly used mechanical stapling device. The iDrive is a battery-powered, re-usable handheld stapler and the RALC is a single-use reload that integrates stapling and cutting functionality. Covidien had secured the U.S. approval for the iDrive powered stapling system in late 2010.
Published data from the trial showed that iDrive and RALC offer surgeons deeper access, improved visibility and easier placement inside the low pelvis vis-à-vis CONTOUR while performing colorectal surgery. The encouraging results further bolster the potential of the iDrive platform.
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that develops and markets medical solutions for better patient outcomes. The company boasts a well diversified product and technology portfolio. Its core medical devices business faces stiff competition from Johnson & Johnson, Becton Dickinson (BDX) and C.R. Bard (BCR).
Covidien remains committed to rolling out new products and technologies, focusing on faster-growing products and markets, and broadening its product range through acquisitions and strategic collaborations.
The company’s stapling products represent a part of its endomechanical instrument business. Its Tri-Staple endoscopic stapling platform and the Endo GIA stapling system, which were launched in June 2010, are driving growth in the endomechanical instruments business.
Covidien’s endomechanical instruments revenues climbed 11% in third-quarter fiscal 2011, boosted by healthy growth in stapling products. The company plans to roll out several new products in fiscal 2012 including a new iDrive platform (“iDrive Ultra” for laparoscopic surgery), which could be an attractive revenue opportunity.
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