Frost & Sullivan Names Inlet Medical 2005 Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Technologies Company of the Year.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Frost & Sullivan will present Inlet Medical, Inc. with the 2005 Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Technologies Company of the Year Award at tonight's 2nd annual Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet for developing and introducing a variety of innovative, minimally interventional medical procedure kits.

Inlet Medical's procedure kits include ELEVEST(R), AVESTA(R), and Metra PS(R) -- all laparoscopic approaches to treat female pelvic support problems. Other well-known products from the company include the Carter-Thomason CloseSure(R) System and the Carter-Thomason CloseSure System XL(TM) for laparoscopic port site closure.

Uterine prolapse, a major health concern for women, affects approximately three million American women annually. While hysterectomy has been the most often used treatment for uterine prolapse, there are several concerns, such as vaginal vault prolapse and other long-term side effects related to the use of this procedure. Moreover, removal of the uterus prevents conception, often making hysterectomy unappealing to patients who are still in their reproductive years.

"Since abdominal hysterectomy is invasive and still the most common hysterectomy approach, the chances of surgical complications, such as severe bleeding and infection at the surgery site increase, coupled with an extended stay in the hospital," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst S. Ravi Shankar. "Inlet Medical's ELEVEST(R) procedure offers women a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure as an alternative to hysterectomy, provides physicians with another procedure to differentiate their practice, and expands previously limited treatment options for patients. It gives patients a choice and more control over their own health."

ELEVEST(R) utilizes a minimally interventional laparoscopic technique to treat uterine prolapse. In this procedure, the uterosacral ligaments are strengthened and shortened to support the uterus in the pelvis. Additionally, the uterus is restored to its correct anatomic position by shortening the round ligaments. The procedure obviates the need for hysterectomy and is particularly useful to patients who want to maintain their fertility and for those who want a less invasive technique to treat uterine prolapse. The laparoscopic technique leads to reduced hospital stay and fewer surgical complications.

To address the problem of vaginal vault prolapse that occurs in up to 25 percent of the patients who have undergone hysterectomy, Inlet Medical developed the AVESTA(R) procedure kit. It shortens and strengthens the uterosacral ligaments to support the vagina and may be performed concurrently at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The procedure can also restore support in post-hysterectomy patients using minimal intervention. AVESTA(R) simplifies the process of suturing, making it easier and quicker for surgeons to reattach/shorten the uterosacral ligaments.

Another of Inlet Medical's innovative products is the Metra PS(R) procedure kit, which is designed to perform the UPLIFT procedure (Uterine Positioning by Ligament Investment Fixation and Truncation). Pioneered in the 1990s by Dr. James E. Carter, the UPLIFT procedure has provided clinical benefit to thousands of women with symptomatic retroverted uterus.

Inlet Medicals' innovative solutions have essentially changed the way in which women and surgeons look at female pelvic support problems. The company vision has always been to develop a straightforward laparoscopic approach that is easy to learn and perform by surgeons. To accomplish its developmental goals, Inlet Medical has placed strong emphasis on research and technology development. In fact, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) has recognized Inlet's efforts to provide best-in-class surgical products for the women's health market in 2003 for the ELEVEST(R) procedure kit and again in 2004 for the Carter-Thomason CloseSure System XL(TM), used to provide full-thickness closure for laparoscopic trocar port wounds in obese and bariatric patients.

For its efforts in developing innovative, viable solutions for under-recognized, under-treated, and unmet health issues for women and in developing medical procedures that serve as viable alternatives to treat the associated medical problems, Inlet Medical is a worthy recipient of Frost & Sullivan's 2005 Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Technologies Company of the Year Award.

Frost & Sullivan presents its Company of the Year Award to a company that has demonstrated outstanding management, consistent growth, and positive social/economic impact on local and national communities and customers within its industry. It recognizes exceptional customer service and the ability to combine technology and successful strategic initiatives to take advantage of market changes within the existing competitive landscape.

Held in San Francisco, Calif., Frost & Sullivan's 2005 Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet honors world-class companies for outstanding performance and achievements in the medical industry. An annual event, the banquet recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.

About Inlet Medical, Inc.

Inlet Medical, Inc., based in Eden Prairie, Minn., is a privately held medical device company that markets specialty laparoscopic surgical products. It develops and markets laparoscopic surgical instruments to laparoscopic surgeons and to gynecologists who perform pelvic reconstructive surgery in women. As many as five million women in the United States may be able to benefit from the company's unique women's health product offerings. Each year there are more than two million laparoscopic procedures in the U.S. for which the Carter-Thomason CloseSure(R) System can be used for full-thickness trocar wound closure. For more information about the company, visit www.inletmedical.com. Educational information about the procedures is available at www.inletmedical.org.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting, and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.