TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 19, 2010) - Titan Medical Inc. (“the Company”) (TSX VENTURE: TMD) is pleased to announce that it has selected KUKA Robotics Corporation, a world leading supplier of industrial robots, to supply its Lightweight Robot (LWR) to be integrated with Amadeus, a next generation robotic surgical system currently under development by the Company.
The LWR is a 7-axis jointed-arm robot that performs demanding tasks requiring maximum precision and sensitivity while having a powerful touch that is very close to the motion sequences of the human arm. In addition, some of its main features include superior torque, precise position and control, tested safety measures, low weight (about 15 kg); and high efficiency power consumption. Moreover, a surgeon will be able to teach the LWR to perform a repetitive task simply by demonstration, for example, by moving the robot manually through each step of the task in the correct order.
Titan Medical’s Amadeus development program is aimed at substantially improving upon keyhole or minimally invasive surgery (surgery without large incisions).
Dr. Reiza Rayman, President of Titan Medical Inc., commented as follows:
“KUKA’s Light Weight Robot represents a significant advancement in medically designed robotic technology. The intelligence, speed, and accuracy of the LWR are currently unprecedented. We feel confident that this technology will add further advanced capability to Titan’s Amadeus platform.”
About the KUKA Robot Group
KUKA Robotics Corporation along with KUKA Roboter GmbH, Augsburg Germany (part of the KUKA Aktiengesellschaft group of worldwide companies), rank among the world’s leading suppliers of industrial robots and material handling vehicles. Core competencies include the development, production, and sale of industrial robots, controllers, software, linear units, and omniMove™ omni-directional motion platforms. KUKA robots are utilized in a diverse range of industries including the appliance, automotive, aerospace, consumer goods, logistics, food, pharmaceutical, medical, foundry and plastics industries as well as multiple applications including material handling, machine loading, assembly, packaging, palletizing, welding, bending, joining, and surface finishing. KUKA robots range from 5kg to 1300kg payloads, and 635mm to 3900mm reach, all controlled from a common PC based controller platform. KUKA is the market leader in Germany and Europe, and number three in the world. The KUKA Robot Group employs about 2,000 people worldwide. Of these, 1,100 are employed in Germany, either at the KUKA Robot Group headquarters in Augsburg, or at various subsidiaries. In 2009, sales totaled 330,5 million Euro. Twenty-five subsidiaries provide a presence in the major markets of Europe, the Americas and Asia. For more information about KUKA Robotics please visit their website at www.kukarobotics.com.
About Titan Medical Inc.
Titan Medical Inc. is a Canadian public company (TSX VENTURE: TMD) focused on the development and commercialization of robotic surgical technologies. The Company is currently developing Amadeus, a next generation 4-armed robotic surgical system, with the objective of enabling surgeons to remotely manipulate surgical instruments. Robotic surgery has developed over the past 10 years into a proven and growing method of treatment. The global robotic surgical market size is currently estimated to be $3.4 billion with potential for placement of 6,000 robotic surgical systems. The Company is researching and developing innovative technologies to empower surgeons to use robots in the operating room of the future. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.titanmedicalinc.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” which reflect the current expectations of management of the Company’s future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “plan”, “expect”, “intend”, “estimate” and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those listed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Information Form dated April 9, 2010 (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in the news release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Titan Medical Inc.
Craig Leon
Chief Executive Officer
(416) 548-7522 (ext. 151)