SUMMARY Traditional open surgery techniques are being replaced by the development of new, less traumatic, and therefore potentially safer minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques. The numerous advantages offered by GSI's patented technology in the cardiovascular area are helping to popularize this change. Dramatic patient benefits can be realized through GSI's contributions to saphenous vein harvest for coronary artery bypass surgery. Saphenous vein harvest for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) customarily involves the creation of a long incision potentially extending from the ankle to the groin, depending upon the length of vein needed. It is the longest surgical incision made anywhere in the body and is associated with a high rate of postoperative wound complications, lengthy patient recovery time, and significant patient pain. GSI's ENDOSAPH® vein harvest system provides the surgeon with a more complete operative solution for minimally invasive harvest of the saphenous vein. GSI has also developed an MIS alternative to traditional treatment methods for chronic venous insufficiency. This condition, often found in the lower extremities, is manifested in chronic skin ulcers caused by insufficient blood supply. In a procedure called subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery (SEPS), GSI's SPACEMAKER® surgical balloon dissector can be introduced at a site remote from the ulceration and used to create a working space from which the surgery can proceed. GSI believes SEPS is perhaps the only viable alternative for many of the estimated 1.2 million chronic venous insufficiency patients in the United States. If you have questions about whether you or a loved one may be a candidate for GSI's cardiovascular products, please consult your physician. Only a physician can help you assess the benefits and risks of various treatment options.