Smith & Nephew Launches Journey Deuce Knee System

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 16 Jul 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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Smith & Nephew, Inc. (NYSE: SNN, LSE, SN) Orthopaedic Reconstruction business today announced the global launch of the JOURNEY DEUCE Bi-Compartmental Knee System. The JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System is a new, innovative solution that may give nearly 70% of all patients receiving a total knee replacement a more minimally invasive, bone and ligament preserving treatment alternative.

"The JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System is an innovative product that provides a unique option for surgeons and patients. By preserving the cruciate ligaments, we would expect the Journey DEUCE Knee System to feel and bend more like their normal knee than any other implant available," said surgeon inventor Dr. Lindsey Rolston, of Henry County Center for Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine in New Castle, Ind.

The implant is called the "DEUCE" because it replaces only the two areas of the knee most commonly affected by osteoarthritis while keeping the third area intact. Since 2003, 1.8 million Americans have had their ACL replaced, which can lead patients to feel instability and abnormal motion in their knees. But now JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System offers another important benefit and allows the surgeon to keep their patient's anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) intact.

"With the retention of the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, the JOURNEY DEUCE knee system addresses an unmet need in the market for the active, informed patient who may be concerned about potential reduced knee function and mobility with a total knee," said Joseph DeVivo, president, Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic Reconstruction. "The JOURNEY DEUCE knee system provides a bone-conserving alternative to a total knee replacement, while allowing for earlier intervention and preserving all future surgery options for patients, including a total knee replacement."

Traditional total knee replacement resurfaces and replaces the ends of the thigh bone (femur), shin bone (tibia) and knee cap (patella). However, one study has indicated that up to 70% of the disease in osteoarthritic knees is limited to the knee cap and the inner portion of the thigh and shin bone (the medial compartment). The JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System treats only the diseased areas the kneecap and medial compartment while leaving the lateral portion of the femur and tibia untouched.

Exclusive to Smith & Nephew, The JOURNEY DEUCE Bi-Compartmental Knee System is the only FDA cleared knee system to replace two of the three knee compartments. Financial analyst firm, Wachovia, called JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System the "most innovative reconstructive product" at the 2007 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting (AAOS) in San Diego, CA. It is available in OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium, Smith & Nephew's exclusive bearing surface that has been shown to reduce wear up to 85%, thereby potentially increasing the longevity of the implant.

The JOURNEY DEUCE Bi-Compartmental Knee System is being launched in the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. Nearly 200 non-design team surgeons have been trained on the system to date.

The JOURNEY DEUCE Knee System is part of a family of next generation products from Smith & Nephew that aim to restore more natural motion through implants that preserve bone and ligaments or replace them with more anatomic components. Other products in the group include the JOURNEY PFJ Patello-Femoral Replacement and the JOURNEY BCS Bi-Cruciate Stabilized Total Knee System, which was Wachovia's pick for most innovative reconstruction product at AAOS 2006.

About OXINIUM Oxidized Zirconium

OXINIUM material is a unique and advanced bearing product technology created through a proprietary manufacturing process that transforms the surface to a ceramic, resulting in a material that incorporates the best features of ceramic and metal while avoiding the limitations associated with either material. OXINIUM material is a revolutionary technology used in the production of components of knee and hip implants that exhibits superior performance characteristics due to its hardness, low-friction and resistance to roughening and abrasion.

The concept of using oxidized zirconium as a joint replacement material was developed by the many individuals within Smith & Nephew Orthopaedic's Research, Development, and Manufacturing groups. OXINIUM technology has been modeled on the highly successful GENESIS II knee system, which itself has been utilized in excess of 500,000 surgeries worldwide. The first oxidized zirconium component was implanted in 1995. Since then, over 100,000 hip and knee components have been implanted with remarkable success.

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specializing in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Orthopaedic Trauma & Clinical Therapies, Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading global orthopaedics companies.

Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The company has 8,800 employees and operates in 31 countries around the world generating annual sales of nearly $2.8 billion.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, statements regarding planned growth in our business and in our trading 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.

Smith & Nephew
http://www.smith-nephew.com

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