BrainLAB Continues To Lead Orthopedic Computer Assisted Surgery Market With Biomet Partnership

WESTCHESTER, Ill., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- BrainLAB Inc., a worldwide leading innovator of image-guided surgery and stereotactic radiosurgery systems, and Biomet Inc., a global leader in the design and manufacture of implants which replace arthritic hips, knees and other joints, today announced a strategic partnership that will allow the companies to co-develop applications for computer-assisted orthopedic surgery (CAOS). This partnership forms an important part of BrainLAB's open platform concept, which allows surgeons to use advanced image-guided surgery with their implant of choice.

"BrainLAB is committed to its open platform philosophy, which enables orthopedic surgeons to leverage their investment in computer assisted surgery by being able to select the implant that best corresponds with their surgical approach," says Stefan Vilsmeier, founder and CEO of BrainLAB. "By partnering with Biomet, customers will benefit from the efforts of both companies who are committed to delivering customer service and innovation."

Precise positioning and alignment of implants is a crucial component of successful hip and knee joint reconstruction surgery. The BrainLAB VectorVision(R) surgical navigation system assists surgeons to increase the accuracy of implant positioning by guiding mechanical instruments to a pre- planned target position, which helps improve post-operative functionality of the implant. With this technology, surgeons are better supported in making informed decisions that may deliver safer surgery with the intent to improve clinical results.

The agreement allows BrainLAB to expand its portfolio of existing Biomet implants to offer surgeons more options in implant-specific navigation guided surgery, and provides Biomet with access to VectorVision(R) software technology. With the addition of these and future Biomet applications, surgeons now have a proven orthopedic navigation option available with:

-- Vanguard(TM) Complete Knee System -- Maxim(R) Complete Knee System -- AGC(R) Total Knee System -- Mallory-Head(R) Hip System -- Bi-Metric(R) X-series Hip System -- Taperloc(R) Hip System -- Mallory-Head(R) RingLoc(R) Cups -- Universal(R) RingLoc(R) Cups -- Full Hemispherical Cups -- ArComXL(TM) Liners -- 36mm diameter heads

"BrainLAB has been a pioneer in this market segment by providing a user- friendly open platform navigation system," says Dane Miller, President and CEO of Biomet. "BrainLAB has the largest base of installed systems for non-spine orthopedic applications -- we could not have chosen a better partner to help us achieve an immediate presence in the CAOS market. We're now able to better serve our current customers and target competitive surgeons who use navigation-guided surgery."

About Biomet, Inc.

Biomet, Inc. and its subsidiaries design, manufacture and market products used primarily by musculoskeletal medical specialists in both surgical and non-surgical therapy. The Company's product portfolio encompasses reconstructive products, including orthopedic joint replacement devices, bone cements and accessories, and dental reconstructive implants; fixation products, including electrical bone growth stimulators, internal and external orthopedic fixation devices, craniomaxillofacial implants and bone substitute materials; spinal products, including spinal stimulation devices, spinal hardware and orthobiologics; and other products, such as arthroscopy products and soft goods and bracing products. Headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Biomet and its subsidiaries currently distribute products in more than 100 countries.

About BrainLAB

BrainLAB, a privately held company headquartered in Munich, Germany, was founded in 1989 and is specialized in the development, manufacture, and marketing of medical technology for radiosurgery / radiotherapy, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and ENT. Among the products developed by BrainLAB are software and hardware components for image-guided surgery and radiotherapy as well as integrated systems for stereotactic radiosurgery. With 1550 systems installed in over 60 countries, BrainLAB is among the market leaders in image-guided medical technology. BrainLAB today employs 620 people worldwide and has 15 offices across Europe, Asia, North and South America.

For more information, visit BrainLAB at http://www.brainlab.com .

(R) registered trademark of BrainLAB in Germany and/or the US

CONTACT: Gabriella Cyranski of BrainLAB Inc., +1-708-486-0114, Cell:+1-312-771-7200

Web site: http://www.brainlab.com/