Vascular Solutions Surpasses 30,000 Successfully Reprocessed ClosureFAST Catheters

Excellent safety record established, with no serious adverse patient events reported since reprocessing began in January of 2012

With recent launch of 0.025" guidewire, Vascular Solutions now offers a complete package of accessory products for RF vein ablation procedures

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 16, 2013 — Vascular Solutions, Inc. today announced that more than 30,000 ClosureFAST catheters have been successfully reprocessed by its partner, Northeast
Scientific, Inc. (NES), since Vascular Solutions launched the reprocessing service for the popular vein ablation catheters on January 16, 2012.

Vascular Solutions today also announced the availability of its new VSI 0.025" Guidewire for use during ClosureFAST procedures. A 0.025" guidewire is commonly used during radiofrequency vein ablation procedures to facilitate placement of the ClosureFAST catheter into desired treatment locations.

Reprocessing of the ClosureFAST catheter is a service offered exclusively by Vascular Solutions in collaboration with NES. To date, over 460 U.S. vein practices have contracted with Vascular Solutions to have their ClosureFAST catheters reprocessed by NES. Approximately 65% of the customers for the reprocessing service have been entirely new
accounts for Vascular Solutions.

The ClosureFAST radiofrequency ablation catheter, which is manufactured and marketed by Covidien, is the most popular product used for performing endovenous therapy for the treatment of varicose veins in the U.S. Vascular Solutions is offering the reprocessing service under contract with NES, an established third-party reprocessor of medical devices. NES received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on November 30, 2011 for reprocessing the ClosureFAST catheter.

Craig Allmendinger, Chief Executive Officer of NES, commented: "Reprocessing is one of the fastest-growing segments of the medical device industry, and the vast majority of U.S. hospitals are now contracting with third-party reprocessors for a number of single-use
medical devices because of the proven results. The ClosureFAST reprocessing service has achieved a high level of acceptance among physicians during the first 20 months that the service has been available, and during this time we believe NES has met the industry's
highest performance standards," Mr. Allmendinger said.

The new VSI 0.025" Guidewire is made from stainless steel and has a PTFE coating. It is available with a double ended-straight and 1.5mm J-tip and is 150cm in length. The 0.025" guidewire is in addition to the previously-available 0.018" guidewire that was designed for venous access in RF vein ablation procedures. Vascular Solutions now offers a full range of accessory products for the ClosureFAST radiofrequency vein ablation procedure, including 7F introducer sheath systems, an 18G echogenic needle for percutaneous entry, syringe kits and infiltration pumps for administration of local anesthesia, and a broad line of procedure packs.

For more information about NES, visit the company's website at www.mdreprocess.com.

ClosureFAST is a registered trademark of VNUS Medical Technologies,
Inc. Reprocessing of ClosureFAST catheters is performed by NEScientific
and is not affiliated in any way with Covidien, VNUS Medical
Technologies or Tyco Healthcare Group, L.P.

For further information, connect to www.vasc.com.