The European Union has granted CorMatrix Cardiovascular a CE Mark for its CorMatrix extracellular matrix (ECM), which is used for cardiac tissue repair during open heart surgery.

According the Atlanta-based company, the CorMatrix ECM is sutured onto the heart tissue that needs repair to close the atrial septal defect, without leaving synthetic or foreign objects in the patient.

CorMatrix said the device has been available on the U.S. market since 2006 and has been implanted during an estimated 20,000 cardiac procedures.