Computer Motion Launches the Evolve Cardiac Continuum Program for Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

TORONTO, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2000

At the 80th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq: RBOT), the leader in medical robotics, announced today the launch of the Evolve(TM) Cardiac Continuum to support minimally invasive heart surgery.

To facilitate the transformation underway in cardiac surgery, Computer Motion has designed a new program to incorporate the innovative computer and robotic technology and the surgical roadmap required to perform endoscopic, beating heart cardiac surgery.

The Computer Motion proprietary technology comprising the Evolve Cardiac Continuum -- AESOP(R), HERMES(TM) and ZEUS(TM) -- makes this surgical evolution a tangible reality for all surgeons and hospitals to start this transition today. The Evolve Cardiac Continuum is designed to support a systematic approach from open-chest surgery to endoscopic, beating heart surgery supported by an economic and gradient integration of computer and robotic technology:

1. Voice-controlled documentation for open-chest surgery

2. Video-assisted thoracotomy valve surgery

3. Endoscopic internal mammary artery harvest

3.1 Endoscopic atrial septal defect 

3.2 Endoscopic, stopped heart coronary bypass

4. Endoscopic, beating heart coronary bypass

4.1.Endoscopic hybrid revascularization (bypass + angioplasty/stent)

5. Endoscopic, beating heart multivessel coronary bypass

A surgeon can begin the surgical continuum by integrating the AESOP Robotic Endoscope Positioner, the first FDA-cleared surgical robot, and the HERMES Control Center for voice-controlled documentation in conventional open-chest heart surgery. As surgeons continue evolving towards advanced minimally invasive procedures with computer and robotic technology, the Computer Motion Evolve Cardiac Continuum facilitates a gradient approach to learning new surgical techniques and procedures.

"Our successful clinical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Evolve Cardiac Continuum," stated Douglas Boyd, M.D., BSc, FRCS(C), Director of the Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program of the London Health Sciences Centre and Professor of Surgery at the University of Western Ontario, who performed the world's first endoscopic beating heart bypass surgery with the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System in September 1999. To date, he has performed a beating heart, endoscopic coronary artery bypass graft (E-CABG(TM)) with the ZEUS System on seven patients suffering from left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

"In 1998, we integrated the AESOP technology into our minimally invasive cardiac program as the first critical step in our strategy to achieve endoscopic, beating heart coronary revascularization. With AESOP, we developed the necessary endoscopic skills and gained significant insight into procedural requirements for our end-goal. We also developed a strong patient referral base with our early success with robotic heart surgery," added Dr. Boyd.

Randolph Chitwood, M.D., of East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, N.C., has incorporated the voice-controlled AESOP Robotic Endoscope Positioner into the standard of care for minimally invasive valve surgeries. According to Chitwood, "The most difficult evolution point for a surgeon is the jump from direct-vision surgery to video-assisted surgery. To facilitate this, robotic visualization is absolutely key. This technology puts a surgeon in the best position to move towards true robotic surgery. The AESOP robotic arm facilitated the start of our evolution, and we are nearing the completion of 100 minimally invasive valve surgeries. We are now in the perfect position to evolve to higher level robotic surgery."

The medical community agrees that robotics and computer systems will play a significant role in extending the surgeon's capabilities, improving patient outcomes and decreasing healthcare costs. "With the Evolve Cardiac Continuum, Computer Motion is providing a cost-effective entry point into the robotically assisted cardiac surgery market," said Robert W. Duggan, Chairman and CEO of Computer Motion.

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(R) endoscope positioning system; the HERMES(TM) Control Center, a centralized system that 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 the ZEUS System. The company's 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.