Computer Motion Announces Completion of 100,000 Computer and Robotically Assisted Surgeries.

Business Editors & Health/Mdical Writers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2000

Computer Motion Technology Demonstrates Broad Clinical

Acceptance in Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq:RBOT), the leader in medical robotics, today announced the completion of more than 100,000 computer and robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery procedures with the Computer Motion robotic technology.

The Computer Motion AESOP(R) Robotic Endoscope Positioning System, the HERMES(tm) Control Center and the ZEUS(tm) Robotic Surgical System have been effectively used across a broad range of surgical disciplines including general, gynecologic, spinal, urologic and cardiothoracic.

Although the Computer Motion technology is applicable to virtually any minimally invasive surgery, the most impactful results are seen in advanced laparoscopic and endoscopic cardiac procedures. These complex cases tend to be long and require a stable operative field of view, excellent dexterity, direct surgeon control, a high level of precision and incredible physician focus.

Freidrich Mohr, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of Cardiac Surgery at University Leipzig (Leipzig, Germany), leads a cardiac surgery team that has performed more than 200 AESOP-assisted minimally invasive heart valve surgeries through a 4-6 cm incision in the patient's chest.

Professor Mohr commented: "Robotic visualization is a perfect example of how advanced technology can be successfully integrated into a clinical setting to achieve positive and measurable outcomes. With AESOP, our team can expect safe, reliable and repeatable operative results with less patient pain, trauma and recovery time."

London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario Canada is a global pioneer in minimally invasive surgery with vast experience in beating heart procedures. They rapidly and successfully integrated the AESOP and ZEUS technology into their minimally invasive cardiac program, completing both the world's first completely closed-chest, beating heart bypass surgery and the world's first completely closed-chest, beating heart hybrid revascularization procedure.

Alan Menkis, M.D. of London Health Sciences Centre, stated, "The patients are the real beneficiaries of these new endoscopic procedures because of the significantly reduced pain and trauma, shorter convalescent periods and the expectation for excellent long-term results."

"The large volume of robotically assisted procedures demonstrates the wide applicability and growing acceptance of robotic technology in minimally invasive surgery," said Robert W. Duggan, Chairman and CEO of Computer Motion. "It also speaks to the phenomenal market opportunity that lies ahead for Computer Motion. The company's patent-protected technology has created the necessary catalyst to drive the surgical revolution from a conventional `open' approach to a more patient-friendly approach.

"To enable a new class of minimally invasive procedures, such as a closed-chest, beating heart bypass procedure, Computer Motion is delivering the technology necessary to push the envelope of patient-friendly procedures.

"As the new millennium begins, the health-care community agrees that robotics and computer systems will play a significant role in extending the surgeon's capabilities, improving patient outcomes and decreasing health-care costs. In fact, according to U.S. News and World Report, four of the top ten best heart centers are using our ZEUS technology and nine of the top ten are avid AESOP users.

"As the market for minimally invasive surgery continues to evolve, Computer Motion technology is rapidly being adopted as the standard of care for many of these advanced minimally invasive procedures."

The medical community has made it clear that computer systems and robotics will be paramount components of 21st Century health care. Tommaso Falcone, M.D., Head of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Section at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio), recently utilized the ZEUS System in a Food and Drug Administration clinical study on robotically assisted fallopian tube reconnection operations.

Falcone stated, "All 10 trial patients now have the ability to conceive. We are excited to offer a minimally invasive surgical option to more women and look forward to continued positive outcomes. I think robotic surgery will make a large impact on the way surgery will be performed."

Computer Motion, the world leader in medical robotics, is creating the cornerstone technologies and products for the Intelligent Operating Room(tm). The company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary computer-enhanced and robotic surgical systems, which enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Computer Motion's products include the voice-controlled AESOP Endoscope Positioning System; the HERMES(tm) Control Center, a centralized system which enables the surgeon to voice control a network of "smart" medical devices; and the ZEUS(tm) Robotic Surgical System for new minimally invasive microsurgery procedures, such as endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (E-CABG(tm)).

ZEUS is CE-Marked for commercial sale in the European Community, and the company has completed an FDA-approved Phase 1 Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study with ZEUS. Computer Motion and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) are co-marketing ZEUS. The company's Internet Web site is www.ComputerMotion.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the company's business and products. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors, including the risks of competition and competing technologies, duration or suspension of clinical studies, regulatory clearances and approvals, and physician, hospital and payor acceptance of the company's products. These factors and other risks inherent in the company's business are described from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.