Medtronic has acquired a hemostatic chitosan-dextran gel technology from Australian and New Zealand researchers that it plans to use to develop products for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Bleeding and adhesions are the most common complications from FESS. In announcing the acquisition, Medtronic says both animal and human studies have shown the chitosan-dextran gel, a polymer derived from the chitin of shellfish and squid, has rapid, powerful hemostatic properties that could help prevent these complications and improve post-operative wound healing after FESS.

The Minnesota-based medical device company's acquisition of the gel from Australia's Adelaide Research & Innovation and New Zealand's Robinson Squidgel and Otago Innovation, will "enhance Medtronic's ability to offer innovative, therapeutic products for sinus surgeons to use in post-operative patient care," said Mark Fletcher, president of Medtronic Surgical Technologies' ENT division, in a statement.

Irene Tsikitas