[May 31, 2016]

Keystone Heart, LTD Appoints New President and Chief Executive Officer

Keystone Heart Ltd., an emerging medical device company focused on developing cerebral protection devices for patients undergoing cardiac procedures, today announced Chris Richardson (News - Alert) will take on the role of the company's President and CEO. Cardiovascular device industry veteran Richardson will be responsible for leading the company through development and into commercialization. The company's products are aimed at protecting the brain from emboli to reduce the risk of stroke, neurocognitive decline and dementia during TAVR, surgical valve replacement, atrial fibrillation ablation and other cardiovascular procedures.

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Cardiovascular device industry veteran Chris Richardson is appointed president and CEO of Keystone Heart Ltd., an emerging medical device ompany focused on protecting the brain during cardiac procedures. (Photo: Business Wire)

"Chris's expertise will be of critical value as we begin our US pivotal trial and continue to build our global business," said Vince Burgess, Keystone Heart's executive chairman and venture partner at OrbiMed Advisors LLC, which has and will continue to provide the capital necessary to build the company's global business.

Richardson spent his 25-year career taking cardiac startup companies from the clinical trial phase through worldwide commercialization and into acquisition. Prior to joining Keystone Heart, Richardson was international president and CCO of Direct Flow Medical, a transcatheter aortic valve company, and general manager, Abbott Vascular Structural Heart, a global company focused on percutaneous mitral valve repair, which Richardson joined through its acquisition of Evalve. Chris has also held leadership positions at Boston Scientific's Cardiac Rhythm Management business and GSC Management Development at Guidant, Heartport (acquired by Johnson & Johnson) and Devices for Vascular Intervention (acquired by Guidant).

"The development of safer structural heart procedures is of critical importance, and I am committed to using my expertise to help bring to fruition the tremendous potential that Keystone's technology holds for protecting patients during structural heart procedures," said Richardson.

About The TriGuard™ Cerebral Protection Device
Keystone Heart's TriGuard™ is the only cerebral protection device designed to provide full coverage to all brain territories, to minimize the risk of cerebral damage during TAVR and other cardiovascular procedures. The CE marked TriGuard™ device is shaped to accommodate anatomic variations of the aortic arch. Formed to withstand potential interface with the TAVR delivery system and other procedure related accessories, it uses a Nitinol® frame and mesh - flexible and atraumatic, yet robust and sturdy.

The TriGuard Cerebral Protection Device is placed via one of two femoral artery access ports typically used in TAVR, thereby eliminating the need for a third puncture site. It deploys rapidly and self-positions through a small 9F catheter, and it provides stable, atraumatic protection, with simple retrieval.

About Keystone Heart, LTD.
Founded in 2004, Keystone Heart, LTD. is a privately-held, emerging medical device company focused on cerebral protection devices for cardiac procedures. Its devices are designed to improve patient outcomes while reducing complications. The Company is headquartered in Caesarea, Israel, with US operations in Tampa, FL. Keystone Heart investors include OrbiMed. For further information, please visit the Web site at http://www.keystoneheart.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160531005618/en/

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