New Easy-To-Use Knotless Arthroscopic Device Provides Surgeons With Full Control Over Suture Tension; Critical Element In Procedure

ANDOVER, Mass., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Smith & Nephew's (NYSE: SNN; LSE: SN) Endoscopy Division today announced the launch of the BIORAPTOR™ Knotless Suture Anchor, a device used to repair a torn labrum in the hip and shoulder.  The anchor is among products featured at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting, which began today in New Orleans.

The fundamental outcome in any surgical repair of a torn labrum is a tight fixation of soft tissue to bone through the use of anchors and suture to provide the best opportunity for healing.  A surgeon's control over the amount of suture tension across the labrum is a critical element in a successful repair.

Leveraging technology from the previously launched FOOTPRINT™ PK Suture Anchor, a two-piece proprietary design enables the surgeon to determine the final suture tension and tissue shift after implantation, which is not possible with competitive anchors.

"Smith & Nephew has been building on an innovative technology base to introduce new anchors for shoulder and hip repair. The BIORAPTOR Knotless Suture Anchor for both shoulder and hip labral repairs offers the surgeon greater control over the suture tension placed across the labral tissue while eliminating knot-tying and a knot stack," commented Dr. Mike Terry, Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine.

"Providing surgeons full control over final suture tension was our main focus during the development process," commented Laurie Staveski, senior market manager, Smith & Nephew Endoscopy.  In addition, by eliminating a traditional knot-tying step, surgeons will also save time with less procedural steps and benefit from a surgical solution that minimizes the risk of intra-articular damage due to knot stacks."

Editor's note: Labral repairs are necessary when the labrum, a meniscus-like cartilage ring that rims the joint socket, tears or becomes stretched due to impingement or injury. Damage to the labrum in the hip may be a source of chronic pain and may also contribute to osteoarthritis. In the shoulder, this damage can lead to instability where the humerus or upper arm bone slips out of the socket. In standard procedures, surgeons reattach the labrum to the bony socket of the joint using small anchors and suture.

™ Trademark of Smith & Nephew. Certain Marks Reg. U.S. Pat. & T.M. Off.

About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products.  Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in 31 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2009 were $3.8 billion.

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our operating margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements as are discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as the phrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigation and regulatory approvals) that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Smith & Nephew, or industry results, to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Please refer to the documents that Smith & Nephew has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including Smith & Nephew's most recent annual report on Form 20F, for a discussion of certain of these factors.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Smith & Nephew as of the date hereof. All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to Smith & Nephew or any person acting on behalf of Smith & Nephew are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing. Smith & Nephew does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Smith & Nephew's expectation with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE Smith & Nephew, Inc.

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED