CONMED Linvatec Announces Launch of Bullseye(TM) Anatomic Cruciate Reconstruction System

UTICA, NY, Nov 16, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — CONMED Corporation’s (NASDAQ: CNMD) CONMED Linvatec arthroscopy unit today announced the release of the Bullseye(TM) Anatomic Cruciate Reconstruction System, a novel guide system for anatomic cruciate ligament (ACL and PCL) reconstructions of the knee. The Company will debut the product at the Fall Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) meeting in Palm Springs, CA, which takes place November 19-21, 2009. The Bullseye System will provide surgeons the ability to more precisely perform anatomic single bundle and double bundle cruciate reconstructions with a flexible and intuitive guide system. The Bullseye System will be supported with new sizes of advanced Matryx(TM) biocomposite interference screws.

The cruciate ligaments are stabilizing ligaments that can be torn or ruptured in traumatic injury. Frequently, these forms of injury occur in athletics, and require repair of the knee to regain normal function. A recently developed method for the repair of these ligaments utilizes an anatomic approach via the insertion of the replacement ligament grafts into the anatomic “footprint” of the original ligament. This new approach to anatomic reconstruction requires advanced instrumentation, such as the Bullseye System, in order to more precisely place the graft in the correct anatomic position.

The Bullseye System consists of anatomic drill guides that visually depict the placement and size of the tunnel to be created and filled with the new ligament. The guides aid placement in the remnants of the original ligament and ensure that the ligament will be correctly positioned without damaging, or interfering with, nearby structures such as knee cartilage surfaces. The guides can be used to position one or two tunnels (single or double bundle) in the original ligament location, facilitating full anatomic reconstruction.

“The Bullseye System supports accurate and reproducible tunnel positioning in anatomic reconstructions,” said Dr. John Xerogeanes, Chief of Sports Medicine at Emory Orthopedics and Spine Center, Atlanta, GA. “The footprint shape of the guides allows me to visualize the exact location of graft placement and to ensure that the size of the tunnel and ligament are appropriate for the native ACL. In my practice, I generally perform anatomic single bundle reconstructions, and these guides are an intuitive way to perform this operation.”