NORTH HAVEN, Conn., Mar 14, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, announced that new data on its hernia and abdominal wall repair products will be presented at Hernia Repair 2011, the 14^th Annual Meeting & Scientific Program of the American Hernia Society. Covidien products will be featured in two podium presentations and nine poster sessions, as well as Company-sponsored symposia.

Highlights include results from multicenter studies demonstrating that Covidien products have the potential to play an increasingly important role in reducing postoperative pain and complications in open and laparoscopic hernia and abdominal wall repair procedures. The meeting runs from March 16 to 19 in San Francisco, CA.

Podium Presentations

Title: Open Inguinal Hernia without Fixation - Preliminary Results of Comparative Randomized Study (Covidien-sponsored study)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Andrew Kingsnorth, Professor of Surgery at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, U.K.
Time: 10:45 am, Friday, March 18, 2011

Covidien Symposia

AHS Non-Complex Hernia Symposium: Advancements in Hernia Repair
Finally Proof, Less Patient Pain and Long-Term Human Data
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Title: Optimizing Outcomes in LVHR: Review of Long-Term, Human Data
Presenter: Brian Jacob, MD, FACS, Director of the Baricenter at the Laparoscopic Surgical Center of New York and consultant for Covidien

Title: ProGrip(TM) Self-Fixating Mesh: Benefits of a Self-Gripping Mesh - Update on the Current Efficacy and Safety
Presenter: Prof. Andrew Kingsnorth, Professor of Surgery at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, U.K.

Title: Pain Management in Open Inguinal Hernia Repair: Nerve Resection vs. ProGrip(TM) Mesh
Presenter: Matthew Smeds, MD, Department of Surgery, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.

AHS Complex Hernia Symposium: Implant Durability vs. Rapid Remodeling
Achieving a Balanced Complex Ventral Hernia Repair
6:15 am - 7:15 am, Thursday, March 17, 2011

Title: Managing the Complex Ventral Hernia Patient: Treatment Considerations for a Successful Repair
Presenter: Jerome Chao, MD, Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY and consultant for Covidien.

Title: The Effect of Partial Crosslinking on Remodeling with a Surgical Implant: What Does the Literature Show?
Presenter: Scott Chouinard, PhD, Medical Science Liaison, Covidien, New Haven, CT

Title: Early Results from a Retrospective Study Evaluating the Use of Permacol(TM) Biologic Implant in the Repair of Abdominal Wall Defects. (Covidien-sponsored study).
Presenter: Matthew Indeck, MD, FACS, FCCM, Director of Surgical Outreach, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA

In addition, independent surgeons will be presenting new data supporting the adoption of:

• Parietex ProGrip(TM) self-fixating mesh in open and transabdominal pre-peritoneal inguinal hernia procedures and open ventral hernia repair
• AbsorbaTack(TM) absorbable mesh fixation device in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

Covidien featured products include:

Parietex(TM) Optimized Composite Mesh (PCO Optimized) - 510(k) clearance pending. Designed to deliver optimal strength, optimal handling and optimal outcomes.

AbsorbaTack Fixation Device - A sterile, single-use device designed for fixation of prosthetic material, such as hernia mesh, to soft tissues in laparoscopic abdominal wall surgeries and open hernia repair. The tack is constructed of an absorbable synthetic polyester copolymer derived from lactic and glycolic acid.

Parietex ProGrip Self-fixating Mesh -- Designed for ease of use, resorbable polylactic acid (PLA) microgrips enable surgeons to position and securely place the mesh in under 60 seconds without the use of additional fixation. Tension is evenly distributed for patient comfort.

Permacol Biologic Implant -- The processing of this porcine dermal collagen implant gently removes cells, cell debris, DNA and RNA without damaging the 3D collagen matrix. The resulting acellular collagen matrix is then cross-linked for enhanced durability throughout the wound healing process in complex abdominal wall and hernia repairs.

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2010 revenue of $10.4 billion, Covidien has approximately 42,000 employees worldwide in more than 60 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

SOURCE: Covidien

Covidien
David T. Young, 203-654-6261
Public Relations Manager
Surgical Devices
david.young@covidien.com
or
Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372
Vice President
Public Relations
bruce.farmer@covidien.com
or
Coleman Lannum, 508-452-4343
CFA
Vice President
Investor Relations
cole.lannum@covidien.com
or
Todd Carpenter, 508-452-4363
Director
Investor Relations
todd.carpenter@covidien.com