COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Spectranetics Corporation (Nasdaq:SPNC) announced successful completion of the first live case using the TightRail™ Rotating Dilator Sheath performed by Charles Love, MD. On the heels of FDA clearance in April, the procedure represents a significant milestone as the company readies the TightRail tool for full launch later this month.

"I was very pleased with how TightRail handled and tracked through the vasculature," said Dr. Love. "It easily passed through occlusions in the chronically occluded innominate vein and superior vena cava. These included areas that had some calcification. We easily and safely achieved the clinical goal. TightRail had no effect on the non-targeted leads in our experience."

Dr. Love also accomplished one of the first lead extraction cases in the United State using the SightRail™ Manual Dilator Sheath. SightRail and TightRail represent Spectranetics' expansion of its portfolio to include manual extraction tools that complement the company's laser-based technology and provide a broader range of options for extracting physicians.

According to Dr. Love, the additional inner sheath offset length that SightRail offers was especially helpful during the procedure. SightRail is also differentiated by visual indicators that show bevel orientation and tip alignment, supplementing fluoroscopy as a means of determining position and orientation.

When Heart Rhythm Society's 35th Scientific Sessions convene in San Francisco this week, Dr. Love will present his first-case experiences and discuss next-generation mechanical extraction tools. His presentation is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 9:45 a.m. in Spectranetics' Booth 2202.

About Spectranetics

Spectranetics develops, manufactures, markets and distributes single-use medical devices used in minimally invasive procedures within the cardiovascular system. The company's products are sold in more than 40 countries and are used to access and treat arterial blockages in the legs and heart, and to remove pacemaker and defibrillator cardiac leads.

The Company's Vascular Intervention (VI) products include a range of laser catheters for ablation of blockages in arteries above and below the knee. The Company also markets support catheters to facilitate crossing of peripheral and coronary arterial blockages, and retrograde access and guidewire retrieval devices used in the treatment of peripheral arterial blockages, including chronic total occlusions. The Company markets aspiration and cardiac laser catheters to treat blockages in the heart.

The Lead Management (LM) product line includes excimer laser sheaths, mechanical sheaths and accessories for the removal of pacemaker and defibrillator cardiac leads.

For more information, visit www.spectranetics.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and is subject to the safe harbor created by that section. Forward-looking statements contained in this release constitute our expectations or forecasts of future events as of the date this release was issued and are not statements of historical fact. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such statements may include words such as "anticipate," "will," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "should," "plan," "believe," "hope," "enable," "potential," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of, among other things, clinical trials, future operating or financial performance, strategic initiatives and business strategies, regulatory or competitive environments, our intellectual property and product development. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and to note that they speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the risk factors listed from time to time in our filings with the SEC. Readers are encouraged to review Item 1A. – Risk Factors and all other disclosures appearing in the Spectranetics Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for further information on risks and uncertainties that could affect Spectranetics' business, financial condition and results of operation. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any financial projections or forward-looking statements due to new information or other events.

Source: The Spectranetics Corporation