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During arthroscopy, surgeons frequently use a cannula to create a sterilepathway to the joint. They insert specialized devices through the cannula todiagnose and, if needed, repair damaged tissue in the joint. One challenge forsurgeons has long been accessing the difficult-to-reach hip joint cavitywithout damaging the delicate cartilage surfaces within the joint.
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The rounded ends of the ARTHROGARDE Hip Access Cannula provide a smoothsurface to protect soft tissue as it penetrates the hip and enters the jointsocket. The cannula wall has been thickened to provide additional strength andprevent bending or wear and tear over time.
"Surgeons are keenly aware of the potential for instrument-induced damagedue to the nature of the hip anatomy," said Lisa Donnelly, Smith & NephewEndoscopy's market manager for hip repair. "We have learned a great deal sinceproducing the first generation of cannulas for hip arthroscopy, and withARTHROGARDE, we've put that experience to good use for the benefit of oursurgeons and their patients."
The line includes reusable closed cannulas in three sizes (4.5mm, 5.0mm,5.5mm), as well as a slotted cannula which allows the surgeon to utilizelarger, and/or curved instruments which do not fit down a standard closedcannula. The slotted cannula features a spoon-like design at the tip toprovide cartilage protection. The Slotted Hip Access Cannula has a redesignedgrip that makes the cannula more stable and resistant to bending.
"The new ARTHROGARDE Hip Access Cannula series was designed to reduce thepossibility of inadvertent injury to cartilage when performing hiparthroscopy. Testing demonstrated that it was difficult to damage thecartilage even when it was intended," said Dr. Victor Ilizaliturri, aprofessor of hip and knee surgery at the National Autonomous University ofMexico and Chief of Adult Joint Reconstruction at the National RehabilitationInstitute of Mexico in Mexico City. "These new devices will be viewed as awelcome addition to hip arthroscopy instrumentation for surgeons who are bothnew to hip arthroscopy and experienced practitioners."
About Us
Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing inOrthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma and Clinical Therapies,Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a globalleader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leadingglobal orthopaedics companies.
Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. TheCompany prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeonsand professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous withhigh standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2007 were nearly $2.8 billion.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" withinthe meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Inparticular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in ouroperating margins discussed under "Outlook" are forward-looking statements asare discussions of our product pipeline. These statements, as well as thephrases "aim", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "well-placed", "believe","estimate", "expect", "target", "consider" and similar expressions, aregenerally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and otherimportant factors (including, but not limited to, the outcome of litigationand regulatory approvals)
