Irvine, CA-based Edwards Lifesciences has completed the acquisition of Embrella Cardiovascular, which has developed an embolic deflector system that can be used during transcatheter heart valve procedures. The purchase price was approximately $43 million cash.
Embrella's single-use, disposable embolic deflector system is placed in the aorta through a sheath inserted in the right brachial or right radial artery. Its porous membrane allows blood flow to the brain while simultaneously deflecting embolic material. The system has been assessed in a limited clinical study in Europe and received CE Mark in May 2010.
Edwards has delivered steady earnings growth since going public in 2000. In six of the past 10 years, profit grew by double digits, according to the Investor's Business Daily. However, Edwards' profit growth is expected to slow this year to 5 percent as the company spends $40 million for the launch of its Sapien aortic valve.
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