ST. LOUIS - Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of Covidien (NYSE:COV), recently announced its Optisolution imaging system product platform. The Optisolution system combines Mallinckrodt's Imaging product line - prefilled syringes and injectors - into a single platform to deliver great overall value to imaging professionals.

"The Optisolution system can help decrease infection rates, reduce loading times for injectors and take several steps out of the imaging process," said Rebecca Saunders, Senior Marketing Director, Mallinckrodt. "Instead of focusing on cost per milliliter, we're demonstrating how this complete system offers high overall value to hospitals."

The Optisolution platform can help mitigate certain risks associated with single dose and bulk solution preparation. Each year in the United States, one in every 20 patients has a healthcare-related infection, leading to 99,000 deaths and $30.5 billion in treatment costs. While not all of these infections are related to contrast media injection, by using prefilled syringes customers can help reduce risks related to human error and unlabeled packaging.

The Optisolution platform may help improve workflow efficiency for imaging professionals by reducing injector loading times. Also, prefilled syringes may help reduce hospital waste. On average, healthcare facilities produce 6,600 tons of waste per day. By choosing prefilled syringes, clinicians can perform imaging protocols using fewer components than the standard imaging process.

"Ultimately, our goal is to provide high-quality, safe and effective products for patients," Saunders said. "We are excited about the Optisolution platform because we're seeing customers make decisions with hospital-wide efficiency and patient safety in mind."

ABOUT COVIDIEN

Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2011 revenue of $11.6 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit http://www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.

Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of Covidien, is a vertically integrated leader in providing products used in diagnostic procedures and in the treatment of pain and related conditions. The company is the largest US supplier, by prescription, of opioid pain medications and a leading manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients. It is also the largest US supplier of the medical isotope technetium-99m and an industry leader in radiopharmaceuticals and contrast media and delivery systems. Sales in 2011 were $2.0 billion. Please visit http://www.mallinckrodt.com to learn more about our business.

Contacts
Lynn Phillips
Manager, Media Relations
314-654-3263
lynn.phillips@covidien.com

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