Discover the Advanced Cardiovascular Solutions and Technologies Developed in Coyol Free Zone by Leading Medical Companies
Coyol Free Zone is home to many companies engaged in the development, manufacture, and innovation of products and treatments related to cardiovascular health and heart conditions.
These firms help to save the lives of millions of patients worldwide by easing the way in which doctors treat and diagnose heart conditions. Such treatments also contribute to improving the quality of life of people struggling with sequels of their operations or congenital diseases.
Multinational companies that have chosen Coyol Free Zone for their operations have discovered Costa Rican talent to be a crucial asset in manufacturing advanced medical devices. Some of them include industry leaders such as Abbott Medical, Cardinal Health, Theragenics, and Philips.
They export products to all continents, ranging from compression stockings to sophisticated heart valves and grid mapping catheters.
This is how these companies help to develop, enhance, and innovate the way heart diseases and conditions are treated:
Abbott Medical
Abbott produces catheters used in minimally invasive procedures to treat coronary and peripheral artery disease. The company also manufactures a state-of-the-art transcatheter aortic valve implantation system, designed to treat severe aortic stenosis in patients at high surgical risk.
This system is the latest addition to Abbott’s comprehensive portfolio of structural heart transcatheter valves.
The portfolio of devices manufactured at its plants in Coyol Free Zone also includes cardiac valves, cardiac ablation catheters, and grid mapping catheters, designed to provide physicians and patients with less invasive options for treating cardiac conditions.
In its vascular plant, the company produces and exports over 2.4 million units of health solutions for Electrophysiology and Structural Heart annually. In total, the company exports close to 6 million units to the United States, Ireland, and the Netherlands, resulting in a total revenue of US$2.1 billion.
While contributing to global health through advanced medical solutions, Abbott reaches markets on all countries, from Costa Rica, including Brazil, China, Japan, and Canada.
The medical solutions developed by Abbott in Costa Rica offer numerous health benefits to individuals. For example, heart valves enable patients with severe aortic stenosis to receive treatment without the need for open-heart surgery, significantly reducing recovery time and the risk of complications.
On the other hand, vascular devices, such as catheters, help restore blood flow in blocked arteries, improving circulation and reducing the risk of serious cardiac events, such as heart attacks. In addition, ablation catheters improve cardiac arrhythmias.
Cardinal Health
Cardinal Health produces and exports 20 million pairs of compression products and 400,000 units of catheters for umbilical vessels and peripherally inserted central catheters per year.
These exports are delivered mainly to the United States and Canada; however, the company also have presence in some markets of Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Sequential compression stockings and devices exert pressure on the leg to increase blood flow and prevent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
In the innovative field, Cardinal Health is currently developing improvements in sequential compression devices at its plant in Coyol Free Zone. It is using a new generation of pumps and devices to optimize performance even more, as explained by Sergio Avitia, Manufacturing Director.
Philips
In its plant in Coyol Free Zone, Philips develops catheters designed to diagnose vascular diseases caused by blockages in arteries.
In addition, it manufactures guide wires, which are crucial devices for measuring blood pressure before and after a blockage in the coronary arteries. These can detect signs of deterioration in cardiac tissue and facilitate decision-making about the best treatment for the patient.
All its devices manufactured in Coyol Free Zone are used in public and private hospitals in Costa Rica, as well as exported to many destinations worldwide, including China, Japan, Australia, India and Western Europe, among others.
Philips is also one of the world’s leading innovators in healthcare technology, investing more than 1.7 billion euros annually in research and development to deliver patient- and people-centered innovations, said Mario Barquero, Plant Manager.
The intellectual property portfolio of this company comprises 56,000 patent rights, 33,000 trademarks, 114,000 design rights, and 3,200 domain names.
With 683 Medical Technology patent applications in 2022, Philips is the top European applicant in the Medical Technology category and the second worldwide, according to the European Patent Office (EPO) Patent Index 2022.
Theragenics
Theragenics produces and develops vascular access devices used in various treatments, serving as an essential component in procedures requiring access to the circulatory system.
From its plant in Coyol Free Zone, it exports 8 million of Medical Devices to the United States annually.
The company is currently working on two projects that allow doctors an improved view during the use of fluoroscopy for access to the vascular system, according to David Rodríguez, Engineering Manager of Theragenics Costa Rica.
Generating heart health awareness among employees
The advancements in medical technology not only extend the lifespan of patients but also enhance their quality of life. This is why the companies located in Coyol Free Zone promote awareness of cardiovascular health among their employees, something that is crucial in preventing cardiovascular diseases, which are among the leading causes of death globally.
These awareness initiatives include communication campaigns, podcasts, health and wellness fairs, sports activities, medical tests, and consultations, among others. For instance, Theragenics has its “Reto de los Pasos” (Steps Challenge in English), which encourages employees to engage in regular physical activity.
Other initiatives include Cardinal Health’s campaigns on good nutrition and physical activity practices and Abbott’s podcast “Mi Mejor Versión” (My Best Version in English). The podcast aims to increase knowledge and promote simple actions to improve well-being by addressing day-to-day issues, such as tips to quit smoking and develop healthy habits, among others.
Philips is involved in awareness activities, such as supporting the Costa Rican Association of Rehabilitated Cardiac Patients. This association is the only one in Central America that provides permanent rehabilitation support to heart patients. The goal is to help these patients change their lifestyles in order toto reduce their risk of mortality for related reasons by 26%.