WARSAW, Ind., Feb 5, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) announced today that the United States Patent Office has granted the company a patent specific to the Zimmer Minimally Invasive Solutions(TM) (MIS(TM)) Procedures and Technologies 2-Incision(TM) Hip Replacement Procedure. U.S. Patent No. 6,676,706, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Performing a Minimally Invasive Total Hip Arthroplasty," includes 17 approved claims related to the Zimmer MIS 2-Incision procedure.
Zimmer, last week, also successfully completed the first computer image- guided MIS 2-Incision live surgery utilizing new software and instrumentation co-developed with its MIS computer navigation partner, Medtronic. With this enabling technology, surgeons will now be able to verify placement accuracy of instruments and implants used in the procedure.
Traditional hip replacement surgery requires making a 10- to 12-inch incision above the hip joint, then cutting through the patient's muscles, ligaments and tendons to access the joint. Furthermore, the patient is often required to remain in the hospital for three to five days post operatively to recover. With the Zimmer MIS 2-Incision hip replacement technique, the surgeon makes two incisions, as small as 1.5 inches each, and generally navigates around the muscles, ligaments, and tendons to access the hip joint, without cutting them. Compared to traditional hip replacement surgery, the Zimmer MIS 2-Incision procedure provides several potential benefits to patients, including: less tissue trauma; faster and less painful rehabilitation; smaller incisions; less scarring; a shorter hospital stay -- usually less than 24 hours; less blood loss; and a faster return to work and leisure activities.
"We are pleased that the U.S. Patent Office has recognized the unique value of the surgical technique used to perform the Zimmer MIS 2-Incision procedure," said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our position is that it is important to use our precise protocol in order to achieve the potential patient benefits of this procedure, and Zimmer is the only company able to offer the training needed to effectively perform the Zimmer MIS 2-Incision procedure."
The Zimmer MIS 2-Incision procedure is based on concepts identified by Dana Mears, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and was first performed in 2001 by Dr. Richard Berger at Rush-Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago. The company estimates that more than 1,000 patients have now received the procedure. More than 500 surgeons have been trained through the Zimmer Institute that provides training at a dedicated 16,000 square foot facility at Zimmer's headquarters in Warsaw, Indiana, and at affiliated satellite institutions. With both the MIS 2-Incision Hip and MIS Quad-Sparing(TM) Total Knee procedures developed, the company expects another 1,400 surgeons to be trained through the Zimmer Institute during 2004. Prospective patients can locate a trained surgeon at www.pacewithlife.com , a Zimmer website which is focused on patient education.
About the Company
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. In October, 2003, the company finalized its acquisition of Centerpulse AG, a Switzerland-based orthopaedics company and the leader in the European reconstructive market. The new Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 80 countries. For the year 2002, the pro forma worldwide combined revenues of Zimmer and Centerpulse were approximately $2.2 billion. On a combined basis, the new Zimmer is supported by the efforts of nearly 7,000 employees.
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at www.zimmer.com
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, U.S. and foreign government regulation, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward- looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, [email protected] ,
or Investors: Sam Leno +1-574-372-4790, [email protected] , both of Zimmer
Holdings, Inc.
http://www.zimmer.com
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