Terumo Announces First Clinical Case of a CE Certified Precision-Drive Articulating Surgical System

LEUVEN, Belgium, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Terumo Europe N.V. announced today that the first operation with the CE certified Kymerax(TM) System was successfully performed in Europe. The Kymerax(TM), a precision-drive articulating surgical system with indications for use in endoscopic surgery, is a true innovation in the field of minimally invasive surgery. Kymerax(TM) technology provides the surgeon with a motor-driven, hand-held device with articulation at the instrument tip.

The first clinical procedure was performed by Prof. Dr. Gunter Janetschek, Director of the Department of Urology and Andrology at Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria in a urological case.

"I successfully finished the laparoscopic nephrectomy! It looks very promising and I am convinced that this new technology will have an impact on daily clinical use very quickly," said Prof. Janetschek.

About Kymerax(TM) System

The new technology, which recently received CE certification, shows relevant differences in essential instrument components offering better efficiency with a comparable safety profile. Operating with Kymerax(TM) enables the surgeon to easily manipulate the handle's controls and buttons and to effectively manoeuvre the instrument tip in multiple directions to operate in areas that are difficult to approach.

"Surgeons routinely comment on the benefits of Kymerax(TM) in terms of functional outcomes. They welcome the fact that they can operate close to the patient and receive direct haptic feedback during laparoscopic procedure," said Mr. Masao Hitotsuyanagi, Terumo Business Unit Manager. With its ergonomic design, Kymerax(TM) could also potentially mean less fatigue and better manoeuvring for surgeons. Overall, Kymerax(TM) is suited for laparoscopic procedures in gynecology, urology and gastrointestinal surgery and provides another alternative approach to minimally invasive surgery. For more information, visit http://www.kymerax.com.

About Terumo

Terumo Corporation is a premier global medical device company with annual sales of more than 3.4 billion dollars for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures and distributes world-class medical devices, such as syringes, blood bags and IV solutions. Terumo has the biggest share of the world markets for angiography guide wires and perfusion products and is a leading developer of interventional products, such as catheters and stents. For more information, visit http://www.terumo.com.