For Immediate Release
Medline Signs Exclusive Agreement to Distribute Polymedic Regional Anesthesia Medical Devices and Single-use Products
Products include peripheral nerve blocks and newly designed ultrasound needles
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 — Medline Industries, Inc., the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare supplies, announced today the signing of an exclusive agreement with te me na SAS to distribute Polymedic® brand regional anesthesia medical devices and single-use products in the U.S. and Canada. The agreement includes peripheral nerve blocks with and without stimulation, as well as newly designed ultrasound needles that provide clearer vision of the needle's tip for precise injection near nerves.
For regional anesthesia, which includes spinal blocks, epidural blocks and peripheral (arm, leg or head) nerve blocks, an anesthesiologist injects medication near a cluster of nerves to numb only the area of the body that requires surgery. Spinal and epidural blocks involve interrupting sensation from the legs or abdomen by injecting local anesthetic medication in or near the spinal canal. Other blocks can be performed for surgery on extremities, or limbs, blocking sensations from the arm or leg.
"We are excited to be partnering with te me na, as they have been serving the European market with these products for over 20 years," said Tim Finnigan, president of Medline's Anesthesia and Electrosurgical Division. "Regional anesthesia is a growing type of procedure in hospitals and surgery centers, and Polymedic will be a great addition to our current product tray offering."
te me na SAS was founded in 1987 by Wilhelm Waskonig and specializes in regional anesthesia products. The company is based in France, where they are the market leader, with operations in Spain and Germany.
About Medline
Medline, the nation's largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of healthcare products, manufactures and distributes more than 100,000 products to hospitals, extended care facilities, surgery centers, home care dealers and agencies and other markets. Headquartered in Mundelein, IL, Medline has more than 800 dedicated sales representatives nationwide to support its broad product line and cost management services.
Over the past five years, Medline has been the fastest growing distributor of medical and surgical supplies in the U.S., serving as the primary distributor to over 250 major hospitals and health care systems. As a leading distributor, Medline offers a comprehensive array of consulting and management services encompassing the supply chain and logistics, utilization and standardization, business tools and enhanced reporting capabilities, and on-staff clinicians.
Medline has a growing network of 34 distribution centers around the country, as well as an expanding, dedicated transportation fleet with over 160 vehicles in a variety of sizes to fit customers' specific delivery needs. The fleet is equipped with the latest navigation devices for enhanced order tracking and communication.