Surbiton, UK-AorTech International has announced that it has signed an exclusive agreement with US-based St Jude Medical's Cardiac Rhythm Management Division for the use of Aortech's Elast-Eon polyurethane-silicone bio-material in cardiac rhythm management leads. Under the licence and supply agreement St Jude will make an initial payment to AorTech of $2 million. St Jude will then make further scheduled payments, dependent upon usage and performance, of $4 million over the next two years. Frank Maguire, AorTech ceo said in a company announcement that, "The completion of this agreement with one of the world's leading cardiac companies represents the culmination of several years work with St Jude on ensuring the reliability and superior performance of Elast-Eon through a stringent regime of rigorous testing." The AorTech chief said he is confident that "our Elast-Eon material represents a new generation of materials for a wide range of implantable devices," adding that this agreement is the first significant step in that process." "
