CARLSBAD, Calif., May 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Vista Medical Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq National Market: VMTI) and Computer Motion Inc. (Nasdaq National
Market: RBOT) announced today a technology and marketing alliance to ensure
that their complementary platform technologies are integrated successfully in
the performance of minimally invasive microsurgery in operating rooms
worldwide. Vista Medical develops, manufactures and markets advanced 3-D
visualization and information systems; Computer Motion develops and markets
proprietary robotic and computerized surgical systems designed to enhance a
surgeon's performance and centralize and simplify a surgeon's control of the
operating room.
John R. Lyon, President and CEO of Vista Medical said, "We have seen a
rapidly increasing requirement at the customer level for state of the art
visualization and robotic control to function as an integrated system. We
expect to make our respective technologies even more effective in advancing
complex minimally invasive surgery as our Series 8000 and StereoSite(TM)
visualization product lines are combined easily with Computer Motion's
Aesop(R) and Zeus(TM) robotic platforms."
Robert W. Duggan, Chairman and CEO of Computer Motion, said, "The
continued development of minimally invasive microsurgical techniques,
particularly in such areas as heart surgery, will require the technologies
supporting the surgeons to be complementary. Both Computer Motion and Vista
Medical have been working on different aspects of the same challenges, very
often with the same surgeons and hospitals in the United States and Europe.
It makes perfect sense from both a clinical and business development point of
view to make sure that our technologies are aligned since we are serving the
same customer."
Lyon and Duggan jointly stated that this alliance reinforces their
existing strategic partnerships. Both companies have investment and
distribution agreements with Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT); Vista has technology
and distribution agreements with Sofamor Danek Group (NYSE: SDG) and Computer
Motion a technology and distribution agreement with Stryker Endoscopy
(NYSE: SYK).
Vista Medical Technologies, Inc., develops, manufactures and markets
proprietary 3-D visualization and information systems that enable minimally
invasive surgical solutions in cardiothoracic, head, neck and spine and other
selected microsurgical procedures. The Company's technology platform provides
a unique 3-D visualization solution, with information from a variety of
sources integrated into a format that provides the surgeon with a clear view
of the anatomy supported by the data necessary in making better decisions.
The Company's Head Mounted Display and image acquisition technology furnish an
intuitive and ergonomic solution to the inherent vision restrictions and
demands of minimally invasive microsurgery. Vista Medical Technologies is
traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the stock symbol VMTI. The
Company's Internet Website is http://www.vistamt.com.
Computer Motion, the world leader in medical robotics, develops,
manufactures and markets proprietary robotic and computerized surgical systems
for the operating room. The Company's mission is to enhance surgeons'
capabilities, improve outcomes and reduce costs using computers and robotics.
The Company currently markets the AESOP(R), a surgical robot capable of
positioning an endoscope in response to a surgeon's verbal commands. The
Company is developing new products that leverage the core technologies
underlying the AESOP(R) family of products: the ZEUS(TM) Robotic Surgical
System for new minimally invasive microsurgery procedures such as endoscopic
coronary artery bypass grafting (E-CABG(TM)); and HERMES(TM) OR Control
Center, a centralized control and operating system designed to control an
integrated network of 'smart' operating room devices through a surgeon's voice
commands. Computer Motion is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
stock symbol RBOT. The Company's Internet Website is http://www.ComputerMotion.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning the
business and products of the respective Companies. Actual results may differ
materially depending on a number of risk factors, including, but not limited
to the following: development, manufacturing and shipment risks and customer
acceptance. Other risks inherent in the business of the respective Companies
are described in Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including their
Annual Reports on form 10-K. The Companies undertake no obligation to revise
or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances
after the date of this release.
SOURCE Vista Medical Technologies, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.ComputerMotion.com
CONTACT:
Robert De Vaere, Chief Financial Officer of
Vista Medical Technologies, Inc., 760-603-9120, ext. 3014; or
General, Stacy Roughan, Investor-Analyst, Moira Conlon or Lisa
Baker, or Media, Michaelle Burstin, 310-442-0599, all of The
Financial Relations Board
NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on Vista Medical
Technologies, Inc., via facsimile at no cost, call 1-800-PRO-INFO
and dial code VMTI.
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