Haemacure Corporation has concluded a three-year exclusive distribution agreement with Instruments medicaux G.B. Inc whereby Haemacure will distribute two innovative patented laparoscopic surgical instruments in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Haemacure also obtained the right of first refusal on the distribution of these products in certain other countries.This agreement will soon yield benefits as Haemacure already serves over a thousand hospitals where these types of products are currently used.

"This agreement enables us to broaden our product lines and build upon our current distribution structure," said Marc Paquin, President and Chief Executive Officer at Haemacure. "Just like our surgical sealant and delivery devices, some of them being developed for laparoscopic applications, the distribution of these laparoscopic devices fits perfectly with our product development and acquisition strategy."

The products, a specimen retriever to be marketed under the trademark X'Tractor and a unipolar endoscopic coagulator-cutter to be marketed under the trademark Laparette, were jointly developed by IMGB and Dr. Jacques Poisson, then Director of Surgery and Head Surgeon at the Faculty of Medecine of the Universite de Sherbrooke.Designed by surgeons for surgeons, both instruments offer several unique and advantageous features.

X'Tractor specimen retriever is used to collect and remove the tissues dissected from the abdominal cavity during laparoscopic surgery.This easy-to-use instrument notably features a highly resistant, fusiform bag favouring the extraction of tissues.Patented and recently approved by the FDA, this innovative instrument is targeted to a market where American annual sales exceed some US$60 million.

Laparette unipolar endoscopic coagulator-cutter is a triple function instrument combining dissection, cauterization and suction/irrigation. Sold separately or as a complement to the specimen retriever, this instrument offers several innovative features. Dr. Poisson, now Vice-President, Research and Development at IMGB, specified: "Patented and awaiting imminent approval by the FDA, this instrument required almost 10 years of research and development. It is very easy to use and perfectly safe. It also has a reusable part, so it is more cost-effective than any other product on the market." In the United States alone, over 1.4 million laparoscopic procedures a year require the use of such instruments, at an average cost of US$100 per unit.