Seattle Systems Introduces the V.3 Knee Brace to American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

2004 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting

booth #207

SAN FRANCISCO & POULSBO, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2004

Truly Custom Fit Bracing Based On New Digital Flash Scan Technology

Offers A Fit Second To None In Industry

Seattle Systems, Inc., a trusted manufacturer of custom and off-the-shelf functional knee orthoses, today announces the demonstration of its latest custom ACL brace, the V.3(TM) brace, at the 2004 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting in San Francisco on March 10-12. The demonstration at Moscone Center booth #207 will feature the V.3. knee brace in models for three different usage levels including light, standard and heavy duty. New to the AAOS annual meeting, the V.3 brace is already being recommended by orthopedists across the country as a leading-edge aid for ACL/PCL and MCL/LCL instabilities. With its low profile design, adjustable tibial bar, and slide and glide polycentric hinge, the V.3 knee brace is one of the most easy to fit and comfortable braces on the market.

Along with its other orthopedic orthoses offerings, like the award-winning Cruiser(TM) OA knee brace, Seattle Systems offers a range of high quality, well-fit products for the orthopedic professional. Using Seattle Systems' industry leading shape acquisition technology called Digital Flash Scan, and benefiting from Seattle Systems CAD/CAM technology in manufacturing, each Seattle Systems custom knee brace product is created using an exact 3-D digital replica of the patient's knee. With the quick turn-around and added accuracy of using Seattle Systems' shape acquisition technology, healthcare professionals worldwide can offer immediate relief to patients in urgent need of bracing. By enabling electronic ordering, Digital Flash Scan reduces fulfillment times by 50 percent versus traditional ordering methods.

For lower usage intensity, the new lightweight V.3 can be scripted for preventative use by any patient with knee instability, functioning as a reliable, but featherweight "jogging partner." For the recovering recreational athlete, the V.3 ACL brace comes in the standard weight model, allowing the weekend soccer star to shine. Protecting the knees of more intense users is the heavy-duty V.3 brace. This highly protective brace is ideal for the battered knees of professional athletes whose bodies often take a beating. By allowing for three different activity levels, the V.3 brace accommodates patients of all weights, activity levels and abilities.

Made from space age thermoplastic composite materials and hand painted in 15 different colors, the V.3 ACL brace also incorporates the latest in color fashions, from key lime to crimson. The V.3 uses a durable polyurethane paint similar to those used in the auto industry, providing users one of the longest lasting, best-quality finishes available, and enabling Seattle Systems to help set new industry trends for fashion.

"Orthopedists, orthotists and orthopedic fitters know it can be tough working with the geometry of the human body because unlike a static piece of equipment, the body is always changing," stated Jeremy Adelson, a composites engineer formerly of Trek Bicycles who is now part of Seattle Systems' product research and development team. "Practitioners across the country tell us the V.3's adjustable tibial bar design creates a more intimate fit, effective even after the patient progresses through atrophy or swelling. From sports manufacturing I've also learned that it's not only important for a product to work well and perform, but also a product's good looks can make a huge difference to someone wearing it every day."

The New Seattle Systems, Inc.

Based in the Northwest with sales offices worldwide, Seattle Systems is a leading American manufacturer of orthopedic and physical rehabilitation products. Seattle Systems provides trusted products with proven designs that meet or exceed industry standards for quality and ease of use for orthopedic, podiatric, orthotic and prosthetic professionals around the globe.

Seattle Systems is the first company to bring 'Flash' technology to the fitting of custom knee orthosis, debuting Digital Flash Scan technology, an easy-to-use knee brace shape acquisition technology for medical professionals. By enabling ultra accurate electronic shape acquisition, ordering using Digital Flash Scan reduces fulfillment times by 50 percent versus traditional methods.

The wide-ranging Seattle Systems product line includes orthotic bracing, cold therapy, sports medicine and artificial limb components and systems.

For more information, please visit our web site at www.seattlesystems.com.