Computer Motion Receives Medical Robotics Patent for Virtual Stillness Heart Stabilizer.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 1999--

Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq:RBOT) today announced that it has received issuance of its 17th patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office disclosing concepts for a system to minimize and compensate for movement during surgical procedures.

Computer Motion's U.S. Patent No. 5,971,976 protects a system that employs motion synchronization of an endoscope and surgical tools with the motion of the heart to give the appearance of a stationary heart for the surgeon to perform endoscopic beating heart surgery.

"As cardiac surgeons continue to look for ways to improve patient outcomes, Computer Motion believes an endoscopic beating heart approach to bypass surgery will be a treatment option for a significant volume of patients," said Robert W. Duggan, chairman and CEO of Computer Motion.

"By avoiding a large surgical incision and the use of the heart-lung machine associated with conventional heart bypass surgery, the patient can experience decreased pain and recovery time, as well as reduced risk of stroke and neurological complications associated with the heart-lung machine. Computer Motion is creating the technology to support this evolution in heart surgery."

Yulun Wang, Ph.D., founder and chief technical officer of Computer Motion, said: "Performing cardiac bypass on a beating heart is complicated by the movement of the heart. The invention covered in this patent expands Computer Motion intellectual property, thereby giving the company a variety of ways to continue to evolve our products to facilitate endoscopic beating heart bypass on the various regions of the heart."

Computer Motion is creating the cornerstone technologies and products for tomorrow's Intelligent Operating Room(TM). The company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary computer-enhanced and robotic surgical systems that enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Computer Motion markets the AESOP(R) 3000, a voice-controlled 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 microsurgical procedures, such as beating heart Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (E-CABG(TM)).

The ZEUS System is currently under an FDA-approved investigational device exemption and is CE Marked for commercial sale in Europe. ZEUS is being co-marketed by Computer Motion and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT).

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.