BRAMPTON, Canada – April 27, 2017 – Medtronic Canada, a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, today announced Health Canada licencing and the launch of the OsteoCool™ RF Ablation System in Canada. For physicians who treat patients with painful bone metastases, the OsteoCool System is currently the only cooled radiofrequency (RF) ablation technology that offers simultaneous, dual-probe capabilities — providing procedural flexibility and predictable, customized treatment. Cooled RF ablation uses high-frequency energy to target cancer cells.

In 2016, an estimated 202,400 Canadians developed cancer.[1] Metastatic bone disease occurs in 60-80 percent of cancer patients, most frequently among patients with primary malignancies of the breast, prostate, liver, and lung.[2] Seventy percent of metastatic bone cancer patients develop at least one lesion in the spine.[3]

The OsteoCool RF Ablation System offers a valid option for patients with painful bone tumors when conventional therapies are considered ineffective, too slow-acting or cause unacceptable side effects.[4]

“Osteocool Radiofrequency Ablation provides a minimally invasive option for the treatment of painful bone metastases and is particularly useful in patients that have not responded well to other treatment modalities,” said Dr. Roy Park in EFW Radiology in Calgary.

"Our Pain Therapies business is deeply rooted in the Medtronic Mission — which calls us to alleviate pain,” said Sandrine Moirez, senior director, Restorative Therapy Group, at Medtronic Canada. “We put an important treatment option into the hands of physicians so they can help more patients suffering from debilitating cancer pain."

Medtronic acquired the OsteoCool technology and associated intellectual property from Baylis Medical on December 16, 2015, and partnered with the company to further innovate the system. Baylis continues to manufacture OsteoCool in Mississauga, Ontario.

The system is temperature controlled and uses internally water-cooled probes to prevent overheating of surrounding tissue during the procedure. The 17-gauge, bipolar probes are available in three lengths and may be used through a variety of cannula sizes. Because two OsteoCool RF ablation probes can be used simultaneously, the system supports a variety of ablation scenarios, accommodating unique patient and procedural needs.

About Medtronic

Medtronic Canada (www.medtronic.ca), headquartered in Brampton, Ontario is a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, which is one of the world’s largest medical technology, services and solutions companies — alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 88,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

[1] Canadian Cancer Statistics 2016
[2] Schuleman et al. Economic Burden of Metastatic Bone Disease. American Cancer Society 2007
[3] Chow E, Finkelstein JA, Sahgal A, Coleman RE. Metastatic cancer to the bone. In:DeVita VT, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA, eds. DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams& Wilkins; 2011: 2192-2204.
[4] Gangi et al. Image-Guided Ablation Therapy of Bone Tumors. Elsevier Inc., 2009.