MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, has acquired Pediatric ENT Associates. With the acquisition, which was effective Oct. 1, Pediatric ENT Associates changed its name to Children's ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, and Children's Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic is now integrated within the new clinic.
NEW PRODUCTS St. Jude Medical Inc., Little Canada, announced the first patient implant of its 23-millimeter Portico Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve using the Transapical Delivery System. In transapical valve delivery, a small incision is made between the patient's ribs and the valve is delivered through the apex (or lower tip) of the left ventricle of the heart. The transapical procedure was performed by Dr. Anson Cheung, associate professor of surgery and director of cardiac transplant at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, B.C.
DEBT AND EQUITIES G&K Services Inc., Minnetonka, announced that it will change its trading symbol from GKSR to GK on Dec. 3. The change more closely aligns the company's ticker symbol with the company's brand name.
