Computer Motion Receives Issuance of Ninth Patent; New Feature Provides Advanced Surgeon Ergonomics For ZEUS Robotic Surgical System.SANTA BARBARA Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 16, 1998--Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq NM:RBOT RBOT Rotating Bomb Oxidation Test ), the world leader in medical robotics, Tuesday announced it has received issuance of its ninth patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides patent protection to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property covering general concepts relating to robot-enhanced endoscopic en·do·scope n. An instrument for examining visually the interior of a bodily canal or a hollow organ such as the colon, bladder, or stomach. en surgery. United States Patent No. 5,762,458 protects elements of the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System used to perform robot-enhanced endoscopic surgery. A surgeon, moving a pair of specialized handles attached to a console, controls the ZEUS robotic arms to maneuver and manipulate endoscopic surgical instruments. During surgical procedures, it is often necessary for the surgeon to reposition the robotic handles without moving the corresponding surgical instruments. This concept is analogous to the ergonomics of a personal computer mouse, in which the user can lift the mouse and reposition it, without moving the cursor on the screen. This feature, along with a number of others related to Computer Motion's FREE-PIVOT feature of the ZEUS System, are covered in this newly issued patent. Yulun Wang, Ph.D., chief technical officer and founder of Computer Motion, said: "As the leader in medical robotics, Computer Motion filed a number of significant, pervasive patents in this emerging field several years ago. Many of these patents are just now completing the patent-review process. We have eagerly anticipated the issuance of this fundamental patent. "Enhancing surgeon ergonomics is essential to obtaining the best possible outcome, and this patent helps us protect key features of our ZEUS System that make surgery easier for the surgeon as well as safer for the patient. "This patent is indicative of the encompassing intellectual property which we have filed with the Patent and Trademark Office. Computer Motion will continue to vigorously secure our core intellectual property in order to sustain and extend our competitive advantage." Computer Motion develops, manufactures and markets proprietary robotic and computerized surgical systems for the operating room operating room n. Abbr. OR A room equipped for performing surgical operations. . The company's mission is to enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs using computers and robotics. The company currently markets AESOP Aesop (ē`səp, ē`sŏp), legendary Greek fabulist. According to Herodotus, he was a slave who lived in Samos in the 6th cent. B.C. and eventually was freed by his master. , a surgical robot surgical robot Surgery A device used to perform some surgical procedures Pros Smaller incisions, ↓ pain, correction of surgeon error and tremors, ↓ infections and other post-surgical complications, faster recovery, better outcomes Cons capable of positioning an endoscope endoscope, any instrument used to look inside the body. Usually consisting of a fiber-optic tube attached to a viewing device, endoscopes are used to explore and biopsy such areas as the colon and the bronchi of the lungs. in response to a surgeon's verbal commands. The company is developing new products that leverage the core technologies underlying the AESOP family of products: the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System for new minimally invasive microsurgery microsurgery or micromanipulation Surgical technique for operating on minute structures, with specialized, tiny precision instruments under observation through a microscope, sometimes equipped with cameras to show the operation on a monitor. procedures such as endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting coronary artery bypass graft n. Abbr. CABG A surgical procedure in which a section of vein or other conduit is grafted between the aorta and a coronary artery below the region of an obstruction in that artery. (E-CABG); and 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. 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 intellectual property research and development and regulatory activities. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors, including the risks of competition and competing technologies, intellectual property challenge and validation, 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 Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 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 |
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