Ethicon Endo-Surgery today announced the company won a Gold 2009 International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for the research and design process used in the development of the HARMONIC FOCUS(TM) Curved Shear. The company was recognized among thousands of entries for its innovative use of four types of research, including extensive collaboration with surgeons across the globe to identify specific unmet needs in thyroid procedures, which played a critical role in the final product. This award is the latest among several other recent honors Ethicon Endo-Surgery has received for products in the HARMONIC® ultrasonic energy delivery device.
"Over the course the development of the HARMONIC FOCUS, it was clear that Ethicon Endo-Surgery was striving to deliver an instrument that was designed with collaboration and input from surgeons themselves," said Prof. Paolo Miccoli, Full Professor of General Surgery, Director, Department of Surgery, Pisa University. "The continued feedback during prototype testing and the number of surgeons from different countries who were involved in the process was quite impressive. The HARMONIC FOCUS Curved Shear is a truly innovative device that should serve surgeons and their patients well."