St. Francis Medical Technologies' Interspinous Process Decompression X STOP Implant Recognized by BUPA.

ALAMEDA, California, August 29 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Francis Medical Technologies received approval of its procedure code in the UK, used to obtain reimbursement for its procedure to treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). After thorough analysis of all the available scientific and clinical data, including those of a prospective randomized multicenter study, BUPA, the leading private health care insurance provider in the UK has recognized this procedure for use on its members when performed by a consultant who has been specifically trained by St. Francis Medical Technologies. Based on the scientific proof of efficacy and the unique characteristics of the implant, the coding was issued by CCSD, the UK private health sector coding party as a product specific code V5484 -- "Interspinous Process Decompression X STOP(R)."

Recognition of the procedure by BUPA represents an important milestone for the acceptance of St. Francis Medical Technologies' patented X STOP, an Interspinous Process Decompression (IPD) system that is a less invasive procedure used to treat and correct LSS, as a stand-alone alternative to decompressive surgery.

"Over 3,000 X STOP devices have been implanted in people worldwide," said Kevin Sidow, president and chief executive officer. "This code will expand availability of the procedure to a wider audience of LSS sufferers."

Physicians use the CCSD code to support the medical necessity of treating signs, symptoms, injuries, diseases and conditions associated with LSS.

X STOP is unique in the applied non-destructive surgical technique and product features, offering a minimally invasive, non-fusion alternative to decompressive surgery.

The X STOP is the first and only device that has been clinically proven to relieve the symptoms associated with spinal stenosis as a stand-alone surgical implant; this provides an alternative to treatments that involve standard decompression surgery, often augmented with spinal hardware.

About Lumbar Spine Stenosis

Acquired lumbar spinal stenosis is a degenerative narrowing of the spinal canal, nerve root canals and/or intervertebral foramina caused by bone and/or ligament hypertrophy in local, segmental or generalized regions. Alternative treatments include, medical management, epidural steroid injections and decompression laminectomy with or without fusion.

About St. Francis Medical Technologies

St. Francis Medical Technologies is a privately held company based in San Francisco, Calif. The company is engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of novel treatments for degenerative spinal disorders worldwide.

    SFMT Contact:
    Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]
    www.sfmt.com | [e-mail]

About SFMT Europe B.V.

St. Francis Medical Technologies received CE mark for the X STOP in July, 2002, and created a subsidiary based in the Netherlands. Currently the product is being distributed in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Turkey.

    SFMT B.V. contact:
    Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]
    For the UK Toll-free: Tel: [phone] | Fax: [phone]
    www.sfmt.com | [e-mail]

Web site: http://www.sfmt.com

media, Lex Giltaij of St. Francis Medical Technologies, [phone]