Healthcare Industry News: Fixation System
News Release - October 30, 2007
ArthroCare Launches Opus(R) TwinLock(TM) Knotless Fixation System
AUSTIN, Texas--(HSMN NewsFeed)--ArthroCare® Corp. (Nasdaq:ARTC ) announced today the launch of its new Opus® TwinLock™ Knotless Fixation System – a device that, as part of the Company’s innovative AutoCuff® System family of products, is designed to provide orthopedic surgeons with a simpler, faster process for performing arthroscopic rotator cuff repairs.Each year, an estimated four million people in the United States seek medical attention for shoulder injuries. Over 400,000 will undergo surgical repair of the rotator cuff.
Pain caused by an affected rotator cuff can be quite severe – ranging from nagging night pain to agonizing limitation of mobility of the arm.
“In testing the Opus TwinLock Knotless Fixation System, we’ve found it has applications for many needs in rotator cuff repair such as double row and transtendinous medial repair,” said Louis Peter Re, M.D., Director of Shoulder Arthroscopy, Riverside Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and Clinical Instructor of Shoulder Reconstruction and Arthroscopy at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Medical Center, New York. “In terms of accelerating the process, providing an effective repair, and generally simplifying what can otherwise be a more time consuming process, the TwinLock device accomplishes the goals it sets out to achieve and has become a regular tool on our shelf.”
The TwinLock system is equipped with a tiny (1.8 mm), sharp tip, designed to cleanly pierce the cuff for easy maneuverability and optimal implant placement while causing minimal disruption to the cuff tendon. The device’s locking wings provide strong bone hold and are set prior to attaching the tendon to the bone to eliminate implant movement once the repair is complete.
Because TwinLock is a dual implant system, it allows two implants to be placed through one small skin incision, directly through the cuff – negating the need for several visualization adjustments and thus providing maximum procedure efficiency for the physician and the patient. The dual implants’ tethered, tensioning design provides secure, adjustable tension to the cuff for ideal tendon-to-bone contact to repair the affected cuff.
“We’re very excited about the launch of our TwinLock Knotless Fixation System,” said Jack Giroux, president of ArthroCare Sports Medicine. “The device is designed to dramatically simplify the most challenging rotator cuff repairs by providing a dual implant system that can be placed and tensioned by the surgeon in seconds -- directly through the rotator cuff. The TwinLock takes our AutoCuff System collection of instruments to the next level and enables us to offer surgeons all the tools they need to tackle any rotator cuff repair with ease.”
As part of ArthroCare’s Opus family of products, the TwinLock Knotless Fixation System is designed to help solve some of the complex problems of rotator cuff repair by providing surgeons with a swift and simple solution. As a result of this advance in technology, ArthroCare believes that 70,000 shoulder injuries currently untreated or performed as open repairs can now be repaired arthroscopically. Giroux noted that TwinLock is now ready for shipping and ArthroCare Sports Medicine expects to begin fulfilling surgeons’ requests for the technology within the next month.
About ArthroCare
Founded in 1993, ArthroCare Corp. (www.arthrocare.com) is a highly innovative, multi-business medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive surgical products. With these products, ArthroCare targets a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several medical specialties, significantly improving existing surgical procedures and enabling new, minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCare’s products are based on its patented Coblation technology, which uses low-temperature radiofrequency energy to gently and precisely dissolve rather than burn soft tissue –– minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Used in more than four million surgeries worldwide, Coblation-based devices have been developed and marketed for sports medicine; spine/neurologic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); cosmetic; urologic and gynecologic procedures. ArthroCare also has added a number of novel technologies to its portfolio, including Opus Medical sports medicine, Parallax spine and Applied Therapeutics ENT products, to complement Coblation within key indications.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENTS
Except for historical information, this press release includes forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, the company's stated business outlook for fiscal 2007, continued strength of the company's fundamental position, the strength of the company's technology, the company's belief that strategic moves will enhance achievement of the company's long term potential, the potential and expected rate of growth of new businesses, continued success of product diversification efforts, and other statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the uncertainty of success of the company's non-arthroscopic products, competitive risk, uncertainty of the success of strategic business alliances, uncertainty over reimbursement, need for governmental clearances or approvals before selling products, the uncertainty of protecting the company's patent position, and any changes in financial results from completion of year-end audit activities. These and other risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including ArthroCare’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and ArthroCare's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006. Forward-looking statements are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipates," "estimates," "projects," "believes," "intends," "expects," and similar words and phrases. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations.
Source: ArthroCare
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