Bullseye Anatomic Cruciate Reconstruction System released

CONMED Corporation's (NASDAQ: CNMD) CONMED Linvatec arthroscopy unit today announced the release of the Bullseye™ Anatomic Cruciate Reconstruction System, a novel guide system for anatomic cruciate ligament (ACL and PCL) reconstructions of the knee. The Company will debut the product at the Fall Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) meeting in Palm Springs, CA, which takes place November 19-21, 2009. The Bullseye System will provide surgeons the ability to more precisely perform anatomic single bundle and double bundle cruciate reconstructions with a flexible and intuitive guide system. The Bullseye System will be supported with new sizes of advanced Matryx™ biocomposite interference screws.

The cruciate ligaments are stabilizing ligaments that can be torn or ruptured in traumatic injury. Frequently, these forms of injury occur in athletics, and require repair of the knee to regain normal function. A recently developed method for the repair of these ligaments utilizes an anatomic approach via the insertion of the replacement ligament grafts into the anatomic "footprint" of the original ligament. This new approach to anatomic reconstruction requires advanced instrumentation, such as the Bullseye System, in order to more precisely place the graft in the correct anatomic position.

The Bullseye System consists of anatomic drill guides that visually depict the placement and size of the tunnel to be created and filled with the new ligament. The guides aid placement in the remnants of the original ligament and ensure that the ligament will be correctly positioned without damaging, or interfering with, nearby structures such as knee cartilage surfaces. The guides can be used to position one or two tunnels (single or double bundle) in the original ligament location, facilitating full anatomic reconstruction.

"The Bullseye System supports accurate and reproducible tunnel positioning in anatomic reconstructions," said Dr. John Xerogeanes, Chief of Sports Medicine at Emory Orthopedics and Spine Center, Atlanta, GA. "The footprint shape of the guides allows me to visualize the exact location of graft placement and to ensure that the size of the tunnel and ligament are appropriate for the native ACL. In my practice, I generally perform anatomic single bundle reconstructions, and these guides are an intuitive way to perform this operation."

In conjunction with the new Bullseye guides, an expanded range of smaller sizes of Matryx Biocomposite interference screws for fixation of graft bundles will also be launched at the Fall AANA meeting. The Matryx brand of biocomposite screws are composed of Self-Reinforced bioabsorbable 96L/4D Poly-Lactic Acid polymer imbued with Beta-TCP particles. Matryx screws are absorbed by the body over time and foster new bone formation around the repaired ligament. The new smaller diameter screw sizes (5.0 - 6.5mm diameters) are comprised of novel processing technology that allows CONMED Linvatec to provide the smallest Biocomposite interference screws currently on the market. The full Matryx product line now comprises 5.0mm through 11.0mm diameter screws.

"The Bullseye System, along with the related Matryx interference screws, provides our customers with an innovative complete system solution for performing anatomic knee reconstructions, an area of medical need," said Joseph Darling, President of CONMED Linvatec. "We now have a complete product line for both traditional trans-tibial reconstructions, and the more recently developed anatomic single and double bundle techniques. We continue to demonstrate a commitment to innovation for orthopaedic surgical procedures and sports medicine with the launch of the Bullseye System, and the previous release and successful market adoption of our new Shoulder Restoration System."

The Bullseye Anatomic instruments join a complete line of products in the CONMED Linvatec knee reconstruction segment, including traditional trans-tibial ACL/PCL guides, biocomposite and metal interference screws, meniscal repair instruments and implants, and cartilage repair options. If you would like to see our newest products, please visit us at the AANA meeting at Booth 200-208 for more information.

SOURCE: CONMED Corporation