MIST, Inc. Provides the "Bridge" for Balloon Dissection Surgery.

SMITHFIELD, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 1997--MIST, Inc. announces it has filed its patent applications for a Free Standing Tissue Retraction Bridge System(TM) which is designed to aid surgeons in maintaining the operative space in surgical procedures using balloon dissection. The Bridge was developed by MIST, Inc. in conjunction with Dr. Steve Eubanks, Director of Surgical Endoscopy at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.

Balloon dissection products are used to create a working space by separating tissue planes to provide access to a surgical site without resorting to blunt dissections used in conventional open surgery and minimally invasive surgery conducted outside of a natural anatomical cavity. Currently, after deflation and removal of the balloon dissector, the tissue along the dissected plane collapses to its normal relaxed state. For the surgeon to operate along the dissected plane, it is necessary to mechanically open the dissected plane with the use of hand-held retractors, clamps, and other such mechanical devices. Unfortunately, the various retraction methods presently used occupy precious space in the operative cavity as well as the operating room due to the additional personnel required to assist in the retraction of tissue.

The Bridge allows the surgeon to easily maintain a uniform working space created by the balloon dissector without restricting access to the surgical site nor crowding the site and impairing the surgeons' view. The Bridge maintains the working space while at the same time avoiding any undue tissue trauma which can be caused by many of the currently available retraction methods.

The Bridge has been found to facilitate easy, effective, and tissue friendly access without requiring additional retraction from surgical personnel or internal mechanical devices. Although not all uses of this free standing tissue retraction system have been investigated, it is known to be useful in the following surgical disciplines: cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, OHN surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic & reconstructive surgery, trauma surgery and vascular surgery.

The Free Standing Tissue Retraction Bridge System(TM) will join the many other proprietary and patented products in the MIST, Inc. family, which include, the 14-Gauge (1.7mm) Instrument Series(TM) for Microendoscopy, the Micro Interchangeable Scope System(TM), the Rotatable/Lockable/Cleanable 5mm Instrument Series, and the 3mm Instrument Series.

MIST, Inc., founded in 1992, is a leading designer, developer, and provider of endosurgery products which are distributed on a worldwide basis. MIST, Inc. will continue to develop numerous design concepts which will either be commercialized internally and sold under the MIST, Inc. name or will be manufactured by the MIST, Inc. OEM Division for companies that concentrate on surgical disciplines which fall outside MIST, Inc.'s core competencies.

CONTACT: MIST, Inc.

Kathy R. Tomasik, 919/989-6478