WARSAW, Ind., March 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. , a leader in the orthopaedics industry, announced today that it is featuring its progress in applying the innovative material Trabecular Metal(TM) Technology across its product line at the 73rd annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
“When we acquired Implex Corp. and full rights to Trabecular Metal Technology, we said we considered it the greatest advance in porous orthopaedic materials in a decade and that we planned to apply it across our product line,” said Ray Elliott, Zimmer Holdings Chairman, President and CEO. “We are excited to be highlighting two such new products at this year’s AAOS meeting -- the first Zimmer(R) Trabecular Metal Primary Hip Prosthesis and the Zimmer Trabecular Metal Reverse Shoulder System, which was first implanted just one week ago.”
Made of the highly biocompatible element Tantalum, Trabecular Metal technology resembles natural bone in its porosity, structural strength and bending characteristics, making it an ideal choice for orthopaedic implants. Because it can be used as a free-standing structure in addition to a surface coating, it allows for the development of completely porous devices.
The Trabecular Metal Primary Hip Stem, which was recently launched, is designed to allow extensive fixation compared to other porous surfaces due to its high porosity. These pores allow bone to grow into the implant. Because of its higher coefficient of friction, when compared to other porous orthopaedic materials, the Trabecular Metal Primary Hip has the potential to maximize improved initial implant stability. The substrate material of the Trabecular Metal primary stem is the Tivanium(R) Ti-6Al-4V Alloy, which provides excellent biocompatibility without excessive stiffness.
Also being highlighted at the AAOS is the The Trabecular Metal(TM) Reverse Shoulder System. The world’s first procedure utilizing the Reverse Shoulder System was performed recently by Dr. Anthony Miniaci at the Cleveland Clinic.
The Trabecular Metal Reverse Shoulder System builds on the tradition of Zimmer’s Bigliani/Flatow(R) The Complete Shoulder Solution, and adds a Trabecular Metal surface to promote initial stability and biological fixation. The Reverse Shoulder System is designed to address a wide variety of patient needs, including both primary and revision situations, as well as reverse, conventional and hemiarthroplasty applications. An initial roll-out of the product is currently underway with expanded availability in the U.S. expected in the second quarter of 2006.
Zimmer previously released a Trabecular Metal Humeral Stem, which also provides shoulder patients with the benefits of the innovative material in conjunction with a system that is designed to better replicate the natural anatomy, balance and stability of the shoulder joint. Trabecular Metal Technology has been utilized in extensive applications at the Zimmer Spine division and is currently being researched for use in implants at the Zimmer Dental division.
About the Company
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer is the worldwide #1 pure-play orthopaedic leader in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing reconstructive and spinal implants, trauma and related orthopaedic surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 24 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer’s 2005 sales were approximately $3.3 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 6,700 employees worldwide.
Visit Zimmer on the worldwide web at http://www.zimmer.com .
Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “assumes,” “guides,” “targets,” “forecasts,” and “seeks” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our ability to successfully integrate Centerpulse AG and Implex Corp., the outcome of the Department of Justice investigation announced in March 2005, price and product competition, rapid technological development, demographic changes, dependence on new product development, the mix of our products and services, supply and prices of raw materials and products, customer demand for our products and services, control of costs and expenses, our ability to form and implement alliances, international growth, governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including tax obligations and risks, product liability and intellectual property litigation losses, reimbursement levels from third-party payors, general industry and market conditions and growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the disclosure materials filed by Zimmer with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Zimmer disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.
Zimmer Holdings, Inc.
CONTACT: Media: Brad Bishop, +1-574-372-4291, bradley.bishop@zimmer.com ,Investors: Marc Ostermann, +1-574-371-8515, marc.ostermann@zimmer.com , orSam Leno, +1-574-372-4790, sam.leno@zimmer.com , all of Zimmer Holdings,Inc.
Web site: http://www.zimmer.com/
