Smith & Nephew launches revolutionary open-architecture suture anchor for rotator cuff repair with greater pullout strength than competitors[i]

LONDON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN;LSE:SN), the global medical technology business, has launched the new HEALICOIL™ PK suture anchor to surgeons around the world. Unlike solid-core anchors traditionally used in rotator cuff repair, the HEALICOIL PK suture anchor eliminates the anchor's inner diameter material. Mechanical testing has shown that this innovative design provides significantly more thread engagement and greater pullout strength than its competitors; even in poor-quality, osteoporotic bone.[i]

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120424/CL92634 )

The HEALICOIL PK suture anchor's unique design also means that less material will be left in the shoulder than with traditional, solid-core anchors.[ii] This is particularly beneficial in procedures where space is limited and multiple anchors are required, such as double-row rotator cuff repair. And since it's made from PEEK-OPTIMA® Polymer from Invibio®, surgeons can trust in the anchor's strength and biocompatibility.

"HEALICOIL PK has everything I'm looking for in the next generation of suture anchors," explains James C. Esch. MD of San Diego, CA. "It uses a minimal amount of material, it's triple-loaded with high-strength sutures and it's easy to insert in both hard and osteoporotic bone."

Finally, the HEALICOIL PK suture anchor provides surgeons with high torsional strength during insertion because the inserter engages 100% of the anchor's length.[iii] This feature minimizes stress and distributes the torque across the entire anchor – essential when placing anchors into hard bone.

"With its distinctive open-architecture design, the HEALICOIL PK suture anchor brings a new level of innovation to rotator cuff repair," says Alain Tranchemontagne, Senior Vice President within Smith & Nephew's Advanced Surgical Devices division. In addition to rotator cuff repair, The HEALICOIL PK suture anchor is also indicated for use in gluteal tendon repair.

Editor's note: The rotator cuff, which is made up of a group of four muscles whose tendons converge to help stabilize and move the shoulder, is subject to a considerable amount of wear and tear with regular daily activities – especially repetitive overhead motions. Current Smith & Nephew estimates are that over 1 million rotator cuff procedures are performed on an annual basis globally to alleviate persistent pain and help patients regain a full range of motion.

About Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine, Trauma and Clinical Therapies, Smith & Nephew has almost 11,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2011 were nearly $4.3 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

Forward-Looking Statements
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.

i,ii,iii ITR-4700: HEALICOIL Suture Anchor competitive testing. Data on file, September 2011

SOURCE Smith & Nephew

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