Computer Motion and SKYTRON Announce Agreement to Develop Voice-Controlled Surgical Equipment
biz.yahoo.com
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 1999--Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq:RBOT - news), the world leader in medical robotics, and SKYTRON, a Division of KMW Group Inc., Monday announced that they have formed a strategic alliance for the purposes of integrating Computer Motion's HERMES(TM) Control Center with SKYTRON's operating room lights.
HERMES encompasses the world's only FDA-cleared voice control interface, which centralizes a surgeon's control of multiple HERMES-Ready(TM) devices. Surgeons can directly control these ''smart'' devices using either voice control or a hand-held touch-screen pendant. HERMES also provides the surgical team with video and voice feedback on the status of each HERMES-Ready device.
SKYTRON joins Stryker Corp., Berchtold Corp., STERIS Corp., and Computer Motion as members of the HERMES Alliance. Under this latest arrangement, Computer Motion and SKYTRON will develop the software and hardware necessary to make SKYTRON's products HERMES-Ready.
Once the development is completed and FDA clearance is received, SKYTRON will sell HERMES-Ready surgical lights and Computer Motion will sell its HERMES software directly to end-users of SKYTRON's lights. SKYTRON, an industry leader in surgical products, will market HERMES capabilities as a value-added option to its surgical lights.
Robert W. Duggan, Computer Motion's chairman and chief executive officer, expressed excitement with this latest addition to the HERMES Alliance: ''We are proud to partner with SKYTRON. By selling HERMES software directly to the end-users of SKYTRON's HERMES-Ready devices, Computer Motion can leverage and focus on one of our core competencies -- selling and supporting user-friendly, highly reliant, mission critical interfaces.
''This approach also allows SKYTRON to concentrate on what it does best -- selling and supporting premier surgical equipment.''
David M. Mehney, president of SKYTRON, stated: ''Computer Motion is clearly the leader in the emerging voice control medical market and we are pleased to join the HERMES Alliance and provide our customers with HERMES-Ready devices. We believe that voice control will be the cornerstone of the Intelligent OR and our investment in the HERMES technology reflects our intention to remain at the forefront of this exciting technology.''
According to John Greathouse, Computer Motion's vice president of Business Development: ''Our alliance with SKYTRON is a significant step toward making HERMES the operating system of the operating room. This relationship also reflects the fact that HERMES is an open system. With the addition of SKYTRON to the HERMES Alliance, the majority of OR surgical lights offered in the market will eventually be HERMES-Ready.
''We intend to further augment the breadth of HERMES-Ready devices by pursuing additional relationships with the leading medical device manufacturers of other key medical devices for purposes of economically integrating voice control into their products.''
Computer Motion is creating the cornerstone technologies and products for today's Intelligent Operating Room(TM). The company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary computer-enhanced and robotic surgical systems which enhance surgeons' capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs.
In addition to HERMES, Computer Motion's other products include: the AESOP 3000, a voice-controlled endoscope positioning system and the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System for new minimally invasive microsurgery procedures, such as endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (E-CABG(TM)).
The ZEUS System is currently under an FDA-approved Phase I Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study and is CE Marked for commercial sale in the European Community. The company's Internet Web site is computermotion.com.
SKYTRON is a privately held provider of premium quality, high performance surgical support systems and products, including: Surgical Table Systems; Surgical Light Systems; Ceiling Mounted Surgical Boom Systems; Washers/Sonic Cleaner Systems; Stainless Steel Warmers and Accessories. SKYTRON has been developing innovative products since 1972. SKYTRON markets and delivers them via a distribution and service network that reaches throughout North America.
SKYTRON plans to continue developing and expanding its product offering with state-of-the-art medical products for the benefit of its customers.
This news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the company's business, products and research and development activities. Actual results may differ materially depending on a number of risk factors, including the risks of competition and competing technologies, duration or suspension of clinical studies, regulatory clearances and approvals and physician, hospital and payor acceptance of the company's new products. These factors and other risks inherent in the company's business are described from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 1998. The company undertakes no obligation to revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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Contact:
Computer Motion Inc., Santa Barbara
805/968-9600
Stephen L. Wilson, ext. 155
Holley Malia, ext. 179
or
SKYTRON Medical Equipment
David M. Meheny, 616/957-0500
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