Pre-Sutured Tendon From LifeNet Health Increases Surgeon Efficiency, Reduces Operation Room Time

World's Largest Full Service Non-Profit Tissue Bank to Launch GraftLink at 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

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LifeNet Health

Mar 20, 2013, 09:00 ET

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeNet Health, a leading allograft bio-implant company, will nationally launch the Allograft GraftLink^® pre-sutured tendon at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, on March 20. The tendon, a medical device-grade sterile (SAL of 10^-6) product processed by LifeNet Health's patented Allowash XG^® technology, was created for use in the Arthrex GraftLink^® All-Inside^® ACL^®Reconstruction.

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Currently, three out of four ACL reconstructions are performed using autografts vs. allografts. During ACL reconstruction surgery, surgeons are often faced with challenges related to time constraints in surgery, complexity of the suture technique, variable sizing for the sutured tendon and donor site morbidity when using autograft.

"The launch of this pre-sutured tendon reinforces our commitment to providing surgeons with innovative biologic solutions in Sports Medicine procedures," said Rony Thomas, President and CEO of LifeNet Health.

"The convenience offered by this pre-sutured tendon allows surgeons to shorten their surgery time — both saving expense and reducing the amount of time the patient is under anesthesia. Equally important to LifeNet Health is that we further honor the gift of donation by using tendons that are not typically used on their own in traditional procedures."

GraftLink tendons are pre-sutured with #2 FiberWire^® sutures under 15 lbs. of tension and provide a high-quality, pre-sized, pre-sutured, frozen-tendon solution that can be used directly out of the package after thawing.

About LifeNet Health
LifeNet Health helps to save lives and restore health for thousands of patients each year. LifeNet Health is the world's most trusted provider of transplant solutions, from organ procurement to new innovations in bio-implant technologies and cellular therapies — a leader in the field of regenerative medicine, while always honoring the donors and health-care professionals that allow the healing process. For more information about LifeNet Health, visit www.LifeNetHealth.org.

SOURCE LifeNet Health