Computer Motion Announces Seventh Consecutive Endoscopic Tubal Reanastomosis Completed With Robotic Assistance.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1998--

ZEUS Robotic Microsurgical System Enables Fully Endoscopic 

Reconstructive Procedures

Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:RBOT) Tuesday announced the successful completion of the seventh fully endoscopic tubal reanastomosis using Computer Motion's ZEUS Robotic Microsurgical System under a U.S. FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE).

All seven patients had (open) fallopian tubes immediately post-operation, and exams of the two earliest patients have verified patent tubes at the six-week post-operative follow-up.

As part of the ten patient IDE study, Tommaso Falcone, M.D., Section Head for reproductive surgery at the Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, Ohio), has performed seven consecutive microsurgical procedures with robotic assistance, including the world's first robotically assisted, fully endoscopic tubal reanastomosis performed in mid-June.

Falcone said: "We are very pleased with the positive results of these initial cases, as well as the public interest in this new surgical option. Six of the seven patients returned home the same day of the surgical procedure, and all of the patients were back to full activity earlier than with traditional open surgery.

"Additionally, the Cleveland Clinic received over 150 prospective candidate inquiries on the first posting of an advertisement to participate in the IDE trial."

Falcone added, "The ZEUS System is simple to set up and operate. The addition of this robotic technology in our operating room has been seamless and easily adopted by the OR team. With ZEUS, I am able to perform the delicate manipulations required of this demanding reconstructive procedure with a high level of confidence, effectiveness and safety.

"We are now capable of performing a high quality anastomosis endoscopically on vessels with inner diameters as small as 0.5 millimeters."

The ZEUS Robotic Microsurgical System enables a fully endoscopic procedure through four ports, three of which are smaller than the diameter of a pencil. Surgical access through these ports results in reduced patient pain, trauma and complications, as well as reduced costs related to longer convalescent periods associated with an open incision procedure.

Tubal sterilization, or ligation, is a common form of contraception for women in the United States. It is estimated that more than 1 million procedures are performed annually with a growing number of these patients opting to have the procedure reversed. This new minimally invasive procedure enabled by the ZEUS System now gives patients an alternative to open surgery and, in some cases, in vitro fertilization.

Robert W. Duggan, chairman and CEO of Computer Motion, commented: "We are excited not only with the success of the procedures, but also with the patients' rapid return to full activity. We believe the strong initial public response to this new surgical procedure goes a long way towards defining the public demand for less invasive procedures."

Yulun Wang, Ph.D., founder and chief technical officer of Computer Motion, said: "Computer Motion intends for ZEUS to be an open technology platform enabling a broad umbrella of minimally invasive reconstructive procedures. The 1 to 3 millimeter size of the typical fallopian tube is similar to many other important vessels in the human body, such as the coronary arteries.

"The positive results of using the ZEUS System to support the reconstruction of fallopian tubes is very encouraging as we move forward with additional minimally invasive reconstructive procedures."

Computer Motion's ZEUS Robotic Surgical System consists of three interactive robotic arms placed at the operating table, a computer controller and an ergonomically enhanced surgeon console. One robotic arm is used to position the endoscope 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 is able to perform fully endoscopic minimally invasive microsurgery.

Computer Motion develops, manufactures and markets proprietary robotic and computerized surgical systems for the operating room. The company's mission is to enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs using computers and robotics. The company currently markets AESOP, a surgical robot capable of positioning an endoscope in response to a surgeon's verbal commands, and has made initial shipments of the HERMES OR Control Center, a centralized control and operating system designed to control an integrated network of "smart" operating room devices through a surgeon's voice commands.

The company continues to leverage the core technologies underlying the AESOP family of products to develop the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System for new minimally invasive microsurgery procedures such as endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (E-CABG). Computer Motion is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the stock symbol RBOT. The company's Internet Web site is www.ComputerMotion.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the company's business, products and research and development activities. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors, including the risks of competition and competing technologies, duration or suspension of pre-clinical and clinical studies, regulatory approvals and physicians' and/or payors' acceptance of the company's new 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.

CONTACT: Computer Motion Inc., Santa Barbara

Stephen L. Wilson, 805/968-9600, ext. 155

Holley Malia, 805/968-9600, ext. 179