[January 05, 2015]

James G. Cullen to Join Avinger's Board of Directors

Avinger, Inc., a manufacturer of image-guided, catheter-based systems used by physicians to treat peripheral arterial disease and pioneer of the lumivascular approach to treating vascular disease, announced today that James G. Cullen has been elected to its Board of Directors, effective December 30, 2014. The Board now consists of six directors.

Cullen brings to the position extensive executive and board level expertise, as well as a passion for the advancement of innovative healthcare technologies. Mr. Cullen has served as a director of Johnson & Johnson since 1995. He was Presiding Director of the Johnson & Johnson board from 2003-2012, and is currently chairman of its audit committee. Mr. Cullen currently serves as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Agilent Technologies (News - Alert), a position he has held since 2005. Cullen joined Agilent's board in 2000 and was recently named to the board of the company's new electronic measurement spin-off, Keysight Technologies.

"Jim brings to our Board an absolutely extraordinary breadth of organizational and operational insights, as well as enormous board leadership experience both generally and more specifically in the healthcare space. These skills are essential to a growing corporation like ours," said Dr. John Simpson, Executive Chairman of Avinger. "Jim has been an enthusiastic and long-trm supporter of our mission at Avinger. We are delighted to welcome a leader of his caliber to our team."

"Avinger's mission to radically improve the way vascular disease is treated is one I have supported for many years as an investor and advisor," said Mr. Cullen. "I am pleased to now have the opportunity to join this dynamic group of professionals and look forward to being an integral part of the organization as it continues to develop and introduce innovative lumivascular products."

Cullen is also currently non-executive Chairman of the Board of Neustar, Inc. He joined Neustar's Board in 2005 and was elected Chairman in 2010. Neustar provides real-time information and analytics for the Internet, telecommunications, entertainment, and marketing industries. In addition, he is a director and member of the investment and finance committees of Prudential Financial, Inc.

Cullen retired as President, Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of Bell Atlantic Corporation (now Verizon (News - Alert)). He assumed those positions in 1993. Prior to that he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic-New Jersey, Inc. from 1989 to 1993.

About Avinger

Avinger, Inc. is a commercial-stage medical device company that designs, manufactures and sells image-guided, catheter-based systems used by physicians to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease. PAD is characterized by a build-up of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the arms and legs. The Company's mission is to dramatically improve the treatment of vascular disease through the introduction of products based on its lumivascular platform, the only intravascular image-guided system available in this market. Avinger's current products include Lightbox imaging console, as well as Wildcat, Kittycat, and the Ocelot family of catheters, which are designed to penetrate total arterial blockages, known as chronic total occlusions, or CTOs. The Company is also developing Pantheris, an image-guided atherectomy device, designed to precisely remove arterial plaque in PAD patients. Pantheris is currently undergoing a U.S. clinical trial intended to support a 510(k) submission to the FDA in the second half of 2015. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.avinger.com.

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