Computer Motion and Karl Storz - Endoscopy Form Strategic Alliance to Sell ZEUS Instruments.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 25, 1998-- Karl Storz - Endoscopy endoscopy Examination of the body's interior through an instrument inserted into a natural opening or an incision, usually as an outpatient procedure. Endoscopes include the upper gastrointestinal endoscope (for the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), the colonoscope (for the to Manufacture and Sell ZEUS Instruments to Perform Fully 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 Heart Surgery Through Pencil-Sized Ports Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq NM:RBOT RBOT Rotating Bomb Oxidation Test ) and Karl Storz - Endoscopy America Inc. Thursday announced a strategic alliance in which Karl Storz will manufacture and sell cardiac surgical instruments A surgical instrument is a specially designed tool or device for performing specific actions of carrying out desired effects during a surgery or operation, such as modifying biological tissue, or to provide access or viewing it. compatible with Computer Motion's ZEUS(tm) Robotic Surgical System. These instruments will be used in concert with Computer Motion's ZEUS System to perform new and complex 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. , such as fully endoscopic heart bypass surgery Bypass surgery A surgical procedure that grafts blood vessels onto arteries to reroute the blood flow around blockages in the arteries (arteriosclerosis). , through ports smaller than the diameter of a pencil. Computer Motion's ZEUS System is composed 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 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. while the other two robotic arms manipulate surgical instrumentsunder the direct control of the surgeon. 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. Movements of these handles are scaled and tremor is filtered such that the surgeon is able to perform fully endoscopic, minimally invasive microsurgery. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. John Greathouse, vice president, business development of Computer Motion, "One of the ZEUS System's key differentiating factors is that it is an open technology platform which allows surgeons to select the instrumentation and visualization technology that best meets their clinical needs and budgetary constraints. "Numerous companies are applying significant resources across the areas of disposable anastomotic a·nas·to·mo·sis n. pl. a·nas·to·mo·ses 1. The connection of separate parts of a branching system to form a network, as of leaf veins, blood vessels, or a river and its branches. 2. devices, reusable instrumentation and 3-D visualization. We have designed the ZEUS System so that hospitals and surgeons can seamlessly integrate such emerging technologies into it. We believe the ZEUS System's open architecture will provide significant utility, value and ease of use to our customers." Computer Motion's non-exclusive alliance with Karl Storz is the first step in its plan to offer ZEUS surgeons choice and value with respect to instrumentation. Karl Storz, whose HOPKINS(R) rod lens telescopes and video imaging systems currently integrate with Computer Motion's 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. (R) system, will increase its commitment to medical robotics by purchasing a proprietary interface connector from Computer Motion. This will allow its instruments to seamlessly attach to ZEUS' sophisticated robotic arms. Karl Storz will then manufacture and sell ZEUS-Ready(tm) Instruments directly through its worldwide sales force. Connie Padden, Karl Storz's executive director of marketing, said, "We believe that robotics represents a key enabling technology which will allow cardiac surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures which are currently performed in a highly invasive, open manner. "Karl Storz has always been committed to offering surgeons the highest quality instruments that provide hospitals and patients with the greatest possible economic value and efficacy. The Computer Motion alliance will expand our presence in robotic assisted surgical intervention by introducing a high-quality Karl Storz line of ZEUS compatible instrumentation. "The precision and control of Computer Motion's robotics, combined with the quality and market presence of Karl Storz's world-class surgical instrumentation, represents a very powerful combination." Robert W. Duggan, chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Computer Motion, said: "We are in the process of establishing additional alliances with other premier surgical instrument and visualization manufacturers in order to offer surgeons choice and value. To this end, we intend to aggressively expand ZEUS Alliance by combining our enabling robotic technology with leading surgical instrument and visualization companies." Computer Motion, the world leader in medical robotics, 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(R), 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 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(tm) Robotic Surgical System for new minimally invasive microsurgery 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(tm)); and the HERMES(tm) 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. Karl Storz Endoscopy-America is an affiliate of Karl Storz Endoskope GmbH & Co., an international leader in reusable endoscopic technology with more than 50 years of experience. Based in Tuttlingen, Germany, Karl Storz Endoskope GmbH & Co. is a privately held, family-owned company that designs, engineers, manufactures and markets all its products with an emphasis on visionary design, precision craftsmanship and clinical effectiveness. For more information, call 800/421-0837 or visit the company Web site at www.karlstorz.com. This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the companies' businesses and products. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors, including the risk of clinical success, regulatory approval and physicians' and/or payors' acceptance of the companies' products. Other risks inherent in the companies' businesses are described in the companies' Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including their 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 companies undertake no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or 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
or
Karl Storz - Endoscopy
Cindy Monticue, 310/338-8100, ext. 2799
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