Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Vancouver 604-669-7764

	    Attention Business Editors:
	    Neovasc appoints medical device industry expert to its Board of
	    Directors

	    VANCOUVER, Dec. 9 /CNW/ - Neovasc Inc. (TSXV: NVC), a new specialty
vascular device company, today announced the appointment of Efrem J. Kamen to
a newly created position on its Board of Directors.
	    "We are delighted to have recruited a new director who brings us
additional strategic insights and financial know how in the medical device
space," said Alexei Marko, chief executive officer of Neovasc. "We expect that
Efrem's experience will be very valuable as we continue to refine our
strategies to advance our current portfolio of products while also ensuring we
are well positioned to ramp up the intensity of our R&D and marketing efforts
as economic conditions improve."
	    Mr. Kamen has spent his career researching and investing in healthcare
companies, with a specific focus on the medical device sector. He currently
analyzes investments in medical device companies on a global level for
Diamondback Advisors NY, LLC, a private New York City investment firm. Prior
to joining Diamondback, Mr. Kamen was an analyst at Chicago-based Citadel
Investment Group, responsible for medical device investments.
	    "Neovasc has assembled a portfolio of innovative vascular intervention
and surgical device products with significant commercial potential," said Mr.
Kamen. "I look forward to working with this talented and energetic team to
ensure that the clinical and commercial promise of the company's products and
rich R&D pipeline are fully realized."
	    Earlier in his career, Mr. Kamen held positions of increasing
responsibility as an equity research analyst covering medical device companies
at SG Cowen and then Citigroup, where he also conducted due diligence for
public offerings and other transactions, with much of his work concentrated on
cardiovascular device companies. Mr. Kamen received a B.A. with honors from
Columbia College in New York, majoring in economics and linguistics.

	    About Neovasc Inc

	    Neovasc Inc. is a new specialty vascular device company that develops,
manufactures and markets medical devices for the rapidly growing vascular and
surgical marketplace. Neovasc is comprised of the former Medical Ventures
Corp., Neovasc Medical Ltd. and B-Balloon Ltd. The company's current products
include, Metricath(R) for intravascular measurement and PeriPatch(TM) surgical
tissue and staple line reinforcement products. Neovasc has a development
pipeline of innovative new products, and provides contract medical device
development and manufacturing services. For more information, visit:
www.neovasc.com.

	    Statements contained herein that are not based on historical or current
fact, including without limitation statements containing the words
"anticipates," "believes," "may," "continues," "estimates," "expects," and
"will" and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or
developments to be materially different from any future results, events or
developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business
conditions, both nationally and in the regions in which the Company operates;
history of losses and lack of and uncertainty of revenues, ability to obtain
required financing, receipt of regulatory approval of product candidates,
ability to properly integrate newly acquired businesses, technology changes;
competition; changes in business strategy or development plans; the ability to
attract and retain qualified personnel; existing governmental regulations and
changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental regulations; liability
and other claims asserted against the Company; and other factors referenced in
the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Although the
Company believes that expectations conveyed by the forward-looking statements
are reasonable based on the information available to it on the date such
statements were made, no assurances can be given as to the future results,
approvals or achievements. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company
does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statements except
as otherwise required by applicable law.

	    %CIK: 0001399708

	    /For further information: Corporate contact: Neovasc Inc., Chris Clark,
(604) 248-4138; U.S. media & investor contact: GendeLLindheim BioCom Partners,
Barbara Lindheim, (212) 918-4650/
	    (NVC.)

CO:  Neovasc Inc.

CNW 08:00e 09-DEC-08