COMPUTER MOTION LAUNCHES ZEUS ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM.

Computer Motion, Inc. (Nasdaq:RBOT) has completed the world's first closed-chest beating heart cardiac hybrid revascularization procedure at London Health Sciences Centre (London, Ontario).

In the two-step procedure, Douglas Boyd, MD, director of the Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program at London Health Sciences Centre, first used Computer Motion's ZEUS Robotic Surgical System to perform an endoscopic, single-vessel heart bypass surgery on a 55 year-old male patient's left anterior descending artery. The bypass was performed through four tiny ports, through which 3mm to 5mm surgical instruments were inserted, while the heart continued to beat. In the second step, William Kostuk, MD, professor of cardiology at the University of Western Ontario, completed an angioplasty revascularization on the patient's second occluded coronary vessel.

The cardiac hybrid revascularization procedure is an integrated approach for treating multi-vessel coronary artery disease. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery is first used to treat the principal coronary artery, while interventional therapies, such as balloon angioplasty and coronary stenting, are then used to treat other blocked vessels. This historic procedure at London Health Sciences Centre added a new dimension to the minimally invasive approach by completing the endoscopic bypass on a beating heart, thereby avoiding the heart-lung machine to administer cardiopulmonary bypass. Studies show that eliminating CPB may reduce the risk of stroke and neurological complications associated with a stopped heart approach.

In this new ZEUS-assisted beating heart procedure, cardiac surgeons and cardiologists combine therapies to provide the patient with three significant benefits:

1. A minimally invasive solution to multi-vessel revascularization;

2. Minimized trauma associated with a surgical incision and CPB; and

3. Long-term patency for the principal coronary artery.

This hybrid procedure couples the less invasive interventional approach of the cardiologist with the effective results of the cardiac surgeon's endoscopic coronary artery bypass with the ZEUS System to create a new revascularization treatment with the optimal short- and long-term results for patients.

"We are pleased to report that the patient heartily refused pain medication just one day after his endoscopic bypass surgery and was discharged and able to walk out of the hospital three days after the first operation was completed. The patient is already out raking the leaves at home," stated Dr. Boyd.

"The long-term benefits to the patient are significant," commented Robert W. Duggan, chairman and CEO of Computer Motion. "The patient experienced a fraction of the pain normally associated with conventional bypass surgery, and his super-fast return to normal living is most pleasing to his family and friends. But it is also important to note the considerable economic savings to his healthcare payor, the Canadian government. Each day saved in an intensive care unit -- and in this case it was a few -- provides the payor a savings of approximately US$1,400. A rapid return to work and normal living means the patient goes from being a 'use' of government funds to a 'source' (a tax payer) of government funds. When you extend this to tens of thousands of patients, it adds up to real healthcare system savings."

Duggan added, "Today this groundbreaking procedure may be the exception, but because of its huge 'win-win' implications for the patient, hospital and payor, we feel that, in time, this will become a standard procedure for multivessel revascularization. With 1.2 million interventional procedures and 750,000 bypass procedures performed annually worldwide, this new procedure addresses a significant market opportunity. At Computer Motion, we are tirelessly working to safely forward this worldwide societal benefit and to allow it to be an everyday reality available to the hundreds of thousands of patients afflicted with coronary artery disease."

Computer Motion's ZEUS Robotic Surgical System consists of three interactive robotic arms placed at the operating table, a computer controller and an ergonomic surgeon console. One robotic arm is used to position the endoscope (a special, slender camera) to provide visualization of the operative site while the other two robotic arms manipulate surgical instruments under the surgeon's direct control. While seated at the console, the surgeon can view the operative site in either 3-D or 2-D, depending on their preference. The surgeon controls the movements of the endoscope with simple spoken commands. Movements of the surgical instruments are controlled via handles that resemble conventional surgical instruments. The movements of the instrument handles are scaled and tremor is filtered such that the surgeon will be able to perform fully endoscopic, minimally invasive microsurgery.

Computer Motion develops, manufactures and markets proprietary computer-enhanced and robotic surgical systems which enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs. In addition to the ZEUS System, Computer Motion markets the AESOP 3000, a voice-controlled endoscope positioning system, and the HERMES Control Center, a centralized system which enables the surgeon to voice control a network of "mart" medical devices. The ZEUS System is currently under an FDA-approved investigational device exemption and is CE Marked for commercial sale in Europe. ZEUS is being co-marketed by Computer Motion and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT). The company's Internet Web site is www.ComputerMotion.com.

For more information, call 805/968-9600, ext. 179.