New HARMONIC FOCUS™ Provides Advantages in Surgical Efficiency, Performance and Patient Outcomes

Ethicon Endo-Surgery Continues to Innovate with New Products Highlighted at Clinical Conference of the American College of Surgeons (ACS)

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA (October 8, 2007) – Ethicon Endo-Surgery announced today at the American College of Surgeons 93rd Annual Clinical Conference the launch of the HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears, a new 9 cm advanced energy device specifically designed for fine and delicate dissections in open surgeries. The HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears, part of the HARMONIC advanced energy family of ultrasonic surgical devices from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, is designed to help improve patient outcomes. 

Data show use of HARMONIC devices is associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss , and less analgesic consumption1 in thyroidectomy (vs. electrosurgery); reduced blood loss in superficial parotidectomy when compared with cold knife parotidectomy; and reduced serous drainage and drain days in axillary dissection vs. electrosurgery.

The HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears enhances surgical efficiency by allowing surgeons to precisely dissect, grasp, coagulate and cut without exchanging instruments. The innovative device also seals 5 mm vessels, as well as lymphatics, and offers advantages in terms of efficiency, innovation and performance, and safer dissection near vital structures than electrosurgery.

“A significant benefit of the HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears is the minimal thermal spread, which is important to help reduce the risk of nerve injury for patients,” said Peter Angelos, MD, PHD, University of Chicago.

The HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears can be used for procedures where precise dissection and efficiency are vital, including thyroidectomies, parotidectomies and axillary dissections, offering surgeons improved comfort with a smaller, lighter hand piece that enhances balance.

“The HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears is an important new option in the HARMONIC line of products,” said Professor Paolo Miccoli, Chief of Surgery, University of Pisa. “This innovation will help cut down on instrument transfers making surgery more efficient than traditional cut, clamp and tie methods.”

HARMONIC devices use ultrasonic energy to simultaneously cut and coagulate soft tissue and vessels at much lower temperatures than RF-based devices, resulting in minimal thermal damage to the surrounding tissue. Since there is no electrical current on the active blade of HARMONIC, there is no electrical energy being transferred to or through the patient.

HARMONIC technology has been used in more than 6.5 million procedures worldwide, including a variety of open and laparoscopic procedures in the areas of general surgery, gynecologic, colorectal, otolaryngologic, orthopedic and plastic surgery.

“The introduction of the HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shears represents our dedication to working with the surgical community to transform patient care through innovation,” said Kevin Lobo, president, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, U.S. “Ethicon Endo-Surgery further demonstrated this commitment in 2007 through the introduction of 12 new products worldwide in various areas of surgical focus.”

2007 Product Launch Highlights at ACS

The ECHELON 45 ENDOPATH STAPLER, featuring system-wide compression, provides a true 45mm staple line and a 21mm wide jaw aperture, while allowing for easy tissue positioning and manipulation. The Echelon45 ENDOPATH Stapler is designed to be a new standard in endoscopic stapling for use in bariatric, thoracic, general and gynecologic surgery.

The new ENDOPATH DEXTRUS MINIMALLY INVASIVE ACCESS SYSTEM is comprised of the DEXTRUS Hand Access Port, Retractors and the DEXTRUS Finger-mounted Instruments. Together, they form the first complete hand-assisted laparoscopic system designed to maximize laparoscopic surgery. The Access Port along with the five finger-mounted instruments can be used for a broad base of procedures within colorectal, gynecologic, urologic and general surgery.

The ENDOPATH XCEL BLADELESS 15mm TROCAR is designed for bariatric surgeons to enhance gastric banding procedural performance by minimizing the risk of gastric band damage and providing smooth, one handed instrument exchange through the lowest drag force and greatest abdominal wall retention of any 15mm trocar currently on the market. The ENDOPATH XCEL Bladeless Trocar features with a bladeless tip features a durable universal seal and stability threads designed to stay in place for hassle-free device insertion and retention.

The MAMMOTOME EX Probe with enhanced technology is designed to decrease force to penetrate, allowing for rapid and precise positioning. Tests demonstrate the sharper EX tip reduces penetration force into the breast tissue by 63 percent.

The NEOPROBE neo2000 BLUETOOTH Probe is the first Bluetooth gamma-guided cordless probe from Ethicon Endo-Surgery in partnership with Neoprobe Corporation. The gamma-guided surgery device features a single user-controlled button and is used intraoperatively to better detect and quantify radioactive emissions from body tissues or organs.

The PROXIMATE LINEAR CUTTER 75mm GOLD CARTRIDGE is sized between the blue and green cartridges with a closed staple height of 1.8mm and offers surgeons more stapling options for open surgery. The PROXIMATE Linear Cutter has intermediate locking positions allowing for accurate repositioning of tissue.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery

Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures. The company focuses on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information on the company can be found at www.ethiconendo.com. ECHELON, ENDOPATH XCEL, HARMONIC, HARMONIC FOCUS, MAMMOTOME, AND PROXIMATE are trademarks of Ethicon Endo-Surgery. NEOPROBE and neo2000 are trademarks of Neoprobe Corporation. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use by Neoprobe or its representatives is under license.

¹ Evaluation of the ultrasonic dissector in thyroid surgery: a prospective randomized study. Defechereux T, Rinken F, Maweja S, et al. Acta Chir Belg (2003); 103:274-277.

² Use of the Harmonic Scalpel in Superficial and Total Parotidectomy for Benign and Malignant Disease. Jackson LL, Gourin CG, Thomas DS, et al. Laryngoscope, 115:1070-1073, 2005.

³ Usefulness of Ultrasound Scissors in Reducing Serous Drainage After Axillary Dissection for Breast Cancer: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study. Lumachi F, Burelli P, Basso SMM, et al. The American Surgeon Jan 2004 Vol 70, 80-84.

DSL# 07-1221.PR ©2007