Viscot Medical has acquired OP Marks, a merger that makes Viscot the leading global manufacturer of surgical skin markers, medication labels and patient safety products.

Surgeons around the world use surgical markers to clearly mark the surgical site before surgery to prevent wrong site surgery. The combined companies offer the widest variety of surgical marker tips and sizes.

OP Marks was founded in 2004 by plastic surgeon Steve Lober, MD, to design mini surgical skin markers and other patient safety products. The daily business of OP Marks will remain unchanged, says Viscot. It will be conducted by Viscot Medical's newly formed division, OP Marks Medical, headquartered in East Hanover, N.J.

"We are proud to associate OP Marks with Viscot and bring together 2 innovators in surgical marking devices and patient safety products," says Katherine Lober, founder and president of OP Marks. "Viscot shares our dedication to meeting and exceeding its customers' needs."

"The joining of our 2 firms will strengthen our position in the surgical marketplace and consolidate our efforts to reduce patient safety errors and improve surgical outcomes," says Gary Pieringer, CEO of Viscot Medical.

Dan O'Connor