Computer Motion Announces Successful Surgical Robotic Telecollaboration Between Norfolk, Virginia and Berlin, Germany.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--April 29, 2002

Dr. Michael Fabrizio at Sentara Healthcare and Dr. Ingolf Tuerk at

Universitaetsklinkum Charite Collaborate on Urology Surgery Using

SOCRATES Robotic Telecollaboration System

Computer Motion, Inc. (Nasdaq:RBOT), the world's leading developer of surgical robotics systems serving over 900 customers and 3000 surgeons in 32 countries, today announced that surgeons in Norfolk, Virginia and Berlin, Germany completed a successful clinical case telecollaboration using the company's SOCRATES(TM) System. Michael Fabrizio, MD, with Devine-Tidewater Urology, and Ingolf Tuerk, MD, Universitaetsklinkum Charite, used the system to collaboratively treat a patient undergoing urology surgery.

"We were able to effectively communicate using the SOCRATES System; I was able to view the procedure as if I were in the operating room. I outlined the steps of the surgery in real-time, and controlled the AESOP robot from my office in Virginia while Dr. Tuerk performed the procedure in Berlin. The opportunities for using telesurgery as a tool to train surgeons in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques are evolving rapidly," stated Dr. Fabrizio. He continued, "Telemedicine is a technology that will profoundly improve the patient's access to the delivery of world-class medical care even in the most remote regions of our world."

The surgery to treat prostate cancer was a complete success, and the 66 year-old male is recovering in Berlin without complications. Video documentary crews covered the event for broadcast on The Discovery Health Channel later in the year.

Bob Duggan, Chairman and CEO of Computer Motion stated, "We realize that the adoption of advanced patient-friendly surgical techniques requires that surgeons have access to the latest advances in technology, and to the best practices of their peers." Mr. Duggan continued, "We offer a system of products that helps surgeons to integrate new techniques and new technology and remove the barriers of time and distance from that equation. We expect to play a significant role in the development of exciting telemedicine applications in the future."

The "Telemedicine Industry Report 2000" forecasts that the telemedicine industry will grow 40 percent annually over the next 10 years and that at least 15 percent of all health care services will be provided via telemedicine by 2010.

SOCRATES allows a surgeon at a remote location to connect to an operating room and share video and audio, use a telestrator to annotate anatomy or surgical directions, and to control HERMES networked devices, including the AESOP-HR(R) endoscopic camera positioner. Surgeons can share diagnostic and treatment recommendations, indicate best practices techniques for specific cases, and collaborate effectively.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital is a 569-bed tertiary care facility known regionally and nationally for many of its specialized services including the nation's first e-ICU, the Heart Pavilion, the Sentara Cancer Institute, transplant programs, microsurgery, and reconstructive surgery. The hospital is southeastern Virginia's only Level I Trauma Center.

Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit, diversified health services organization whose unique integration of people, processes and technologies has made it the number one provider of innovative healthcare services in the greater Hampton Roads region and a nationally recognized leader in the healthcare industry.

Computer Motion's products include: the ZEUS(R) Robotic Surgical System with MicroWrist(TM) for minimally invasive surgery, the HERMES(TM) Control Center, a centralized system that enables the surgeon to voice control a network of "smart" medical devices, and the AESOP(R) Robotic Endoscope Positioner, which was also the first surgical robot to be made commercially available in the U.S. The SOCRATES(TM) Telecollaboration System is the first device in the newly created FDA category of Robotic Telemedicine Devices. The company does business in 32 countries around the world, and has placed over 1600 products in more than 900 operating rooms used by over 3000 surgeon practitioners. The company recently submitted a 510(k) clearance application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System with MicroWrist for general laparoscopic surgery. The company's products are CE-Marked for commercial sale in the European Community. The company's Web site is www.ComputerMotion.com.

This press 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.