Zimmer Introduces a Move Forward in Mobile Bearing Knee Design

WARSAW, Ind., Jan. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, today launched the Zimmer NexGen LPS-Flex Mobile Bearing Knee with Prolong Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene (XLPE) in the United States.  The LPS-Flex Mobile Bearing knee provides a revolutionary anteriorly-positioned pivot near the entry point of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), replicating the anatomic center of knee rotation.

The LPS-Flex Mobile system is backed by more than ten years of successful clinical history in Europe and Japan.  Since the system's launch, more than 130,000 LPS-Flex Mobile knees have been implanted worldwide.  

"Our Prolong Highly Crosslinked Polyethylene provides a number of clinical advantages, including reduced wear and delamination resistance," said Jeff McCaulley, Zimmer President, Reconstructive.  "Applying this exciting material to our already successful NexGen LPS-Flex Mobile Bearing Knee System represents a major step forward in mobile bearing design."  

During in vitro wear simulator testing, the LPS-Flex Mobile with Prolong Polyethylene system demonstrated an 83 percent wear reduction compared to conventional polyethylene.  

Zimmer was the first company to launch XLPE over nine years ago for the NexGen Fixed Bearing system.  Since its launch, the blend specifically formulated for the knee has been utilized in more than 450,000 implantations worldwide and has demonstrated an 81% (CR) and 78% (PS) wear reduction compared to conventional poly during in vitro wear simulator testing.

To learn more about the need and benefits of combining Prolong Polyethylene with the LPS-Flex Mobile system, please visit www.mobile.zimmer.com.

About the Company

Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products.  Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries.  Zimmer's 2009 sales were approximately $4.1 billion.  The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.

For more information about Zimmer, visit www.zimmer.com

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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," "assumes," "guides," "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.  For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in our periodic reports.  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.