MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew, Inc. (NYSE: SNN, LSE: SN) Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma today announced the introduction of VISIONAIRE Patient Matched instrumentation for use in total knee replacement surgery. The VISIONAIRE system is proprietary technology that uses a patient's MRI and x-rays to create custom surgical instrumentation for use with the Smith & Nephew portfolio of high performance knee implants.
By using instruments designed from each patient's anatomical data, surgeons can accommodate the unique shapes and angles of the joint while precisely aligning the implant. The disposable, patient-specific instruments help surgeons eliminate multiple steps and valuable minutes from knee replacement surgery, thus decreasing the risk of infection as well as the amount of time a patient is under anesthesia.
Additionally, the VISIONAIRE system helps hospitals reduce expenses as it eliminates the sterilization costs associated with the traditional, reusable instruments it replaces.
"VISIONAIRE instrumentation is a mutually beneficial technology for patients, surgeons, hospitals and Smith & Nephew," said Joseph DeVivo, president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic Reconstruction & Trauma. "The VISIONAIRE system is a core component of our strategy. Patient matched technology is the future of orthopedics and the future of Smith & Nephew, and this launch represents the start of our efforts."
VISIONAIRE technology received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2008 and will be launched in targeted US markets throughout 2009. The company is working to expand its use of this proprietary technology across its portfolio of high performance implants for knee and hip replacement and resurfacing.
Smith & Nephew is the first and only major medical device company to design, build and distribute this powerful new technology for patients suffering from advanced osteoarthritis of the knee. Other implant makers rely on systems designed and built by third parties.
About us
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma & Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.
Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has 8,800 employees and operates in 32 countries around the world. Annual Sales in 2007 were nearly $3.4 billion.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our trading margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
SOURCE Smith & Nephew, Inc.
