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AGA Medical Corporation Launches Fourth Web-Based Stroke Education and Awareness Video Featuring Professional Football Player Tedy Bruschi

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 April 2009, 08:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- AGA Medical Corporation today launched the fourth in a series of web-based stroke education and awareness videos featuring Tedy Bruschi, a professional football player who suffered a stroke in February 2005, subsequently recovered and returned to his career. The new video features Tedy describing his return to professional football after suffering a stroke. The video is the crescendo of Tedy's story following the previous three videos in the series, released in January through March. It will be followed by one last video posted on the AGA Medical website that describes Tedy's firsthand experience as a stroke victim, survivor and prevention champion.

"I hope that by sharing my experiences through the video series people will come to understand the important risk factors for stroke, learn to quickly identify the warning signs and be better prepared should they themselves or a loved one, colleague or neighbor experience a stroke," said Tedy Bruschi. "I know firsthand the emotional and physical challenges that experiencing a stroke can lead to. My hope is that the content of the program developed with AGA Medical may help other stroke survivors achieve a positive recovery. That is why this effort is so important to me."

AGA Medical announced its partnership with Tedy Bruschi in December 2008 with the release of a video in which Tedy describes the warning signs of stroke. In January, the national stroke awareness program's next initiative - a series of five inspirational videos of Tedy discussing his personal experience with stroke and educating others about warning signs - kicked off with the release of a video describing Tedy's life prior to his stroke. Each month though May, AGA Medical Corporation and Tedy will team up to release a new video. Visitors to the www.amplatzer.com/strokeawareness website will be able to view all videos released to date. AGA Medical Corporation will launch additional initiatives throughout 2009 to build upon this comprehensive stroke education, awareness and prevention campaign.

"We believe that sharing Tedy's story of his return to professional football is a way to inspire those recovering from stroke," said John Barr, chief executive officer of AGA Medical. "As we continue our research for potential therapies in stroke prevention, Tedy's return to professional football sends a message of remarkable hope and relentless recovery to stroke survivors like Tedy."

Stroke, defined as a sudden injury to the brain caused by a blood vessel bursting or becoming blocked, is the nation's number 3 cause of death behind heart disease and cancer. The American Heart Association reports that each year, about 700,000 Americans suffer from a stroke. One-third of stroke victims are under 65, and even children can suffer a stroke.

About Tedy Bruschi

Coming off the success of winning his 3rd league championship and playing in the annual league all-star game in February of 2005, Tedy unexpectedly experienced a stroke. On the advice of his physician, a device from AGA Medical was prescribed and implanted as part of Tedy's treatment. After several months of extensive rehabilitation and recovery, Tedy was medically cleared to resume playing football less than a year later. Today, in addition to his continued success on the field, Tedy dedicates a considerable part of his time off the field toward raising stroke awareness and funds for stroke research.

To learn more about Tedy and the warning signs of stroke, visit www.amplatzer.com/strokeawareness.

Clinical Trial Underway

AGA Medical is currently conducting a multicenter, randomized clinical study, known as the RESPECT trial, to investigate whether closure of a congenital heart defect using an AGA Medical device is superior to current standard of care treatment in the prevention of a particular type of stroke. For more information on the clinical trial and the warning signs of stroke, visit www.amplatzer.com.

About AGA Medical Corporation

AGA Medical Corporation, based in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a leader in developing interventional devices for the minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular defects and peripheral vascular disease. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Kurt Amplatz, a former professor and researcher at the University of Minnesota Department of Radiology, AGA Medical develops and commercializes devices for a range of structural heart repair and circulatory conditions. Several of these devices have been major innovations in the treatment of the most common congenital "holes in the heart", such as atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovales.

More than 700 articles have been published in medical literature that support the benefits of AGA Medical devices, including improved patient outcomes, reduced length of stay, and accelerated recovery times for the patient. AGA Medical devices have received regulatory approval and are marketed in 101 countries. For more information, visit www.amplatzer.com.

SOURCE AGA Medical Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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