Ethicon Endo-Surgery Also Launches ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw; the Advanced Bipolar Energy Technology Designed To Improve Surgeon Confidence In Tissue Effects

London, ON – Canadian Surgery Forum, September 15, 2011 – Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (EES), a division of Johnson & Johnson Medical Companies (JJMC), announces Health Canada approval and the Canadian launch of its new EES Generator, the first system to combine ultrasonic and advanced bipolar energy into one simple design enabling operating room efficiencies, enhanced device performance and costs savings for the health care system.  The EES Generator is designed for easy set-up and use in the operating room (OR). In addition to the Health Canada approval of the new EES Generator, EES also announces the Canadian launch of ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw, an advanced bipolar energy technology used in many open surgical procedures.  ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw technology brings a new level of confidence and consistency to sealing and transecting vessels up to and including 7mm through strong, complete and contained seals, while optimizing patient outcomes by minimizing tissue trauma and advancing healing.

“The launch of the new EES Generator and ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw marks a major milestone in the advancement of energy-based surgical solutions in Canada,” said Andy Williams, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ethicon Endo-Surgery in Canada. “The development of both products are a direct result of surgeon and OR team feedback. Now there is a generator that enables efficiency and simplification in the operating room, while providing the health care system cost savings. With ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw, surgeons can experience consistency in sealing large vessels in open procedures”.

About the New EES Generator

The new EES Generator has several innovative features that enable the delivery of advanced energy technology and meet the need to simplify the OR including:

• One unit that powers all current and next generation HARMONIC® ultrasonic and ENSEAL® advanced bipolar devices. This includes the newly launched ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw technology designed to offer surgeons strong, uniform compression while minimizing tissue trauma and advancing healing.
• Intuitive touch screen technology display that provides user feedback.
• More compact and lightweight than other generators. Its portable design and optional rolling stand make it easy to move in and around the operating room.
• On-screen diagnostics that provide step-by-step animations, allowing the user to quickly set-up and troubleshoot.
• Upgradable software feature that gives hospital access to the latest EES energy products and upgrades

About ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw
Limitations in vessel sealing associated with traditional compression based methods, such as staples and sutures, have led to the widespread adoption of energy-based sealing devices to provide the improved patient outcomes associated with laparoscopic techniques. The new ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw advanced bipolar innovation was developed to address surgeons’ need for achieving strong vessel seals while minimizing tissue trauma in open surgery. ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw is designed with proprietary I-BLADE® technology to deliver high uniform compression for sealing vessels consistently along the length of the 40mm curved jaw. Other bipolar devices rely solely on the force of initial jaw closure to provide compression – which results in a fall-off in force from the proximal to the distal end of the jaws and may lead to bleeding at the tip of the jaw.

ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw is gentle on tissue because it is designed to control temperature at the device-tissue interface. A polymer compound within the jaw uses Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) technology to modulate energy flow. It maintains a constant temperature of approximately 100 degrees Celsius, minimizing tissue sticking, charring and smoke. In addition, ENSEAL® G2 Super Jaw’s offset electrode design focuses and contains energy within the jaws and minimizes thermal spread to approximately 1mm.  Other bipolar devices do not have the PTC and offset electrode technologies for minimizing energy spread into surrounding tissue.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery Advanced Energy
Ethicon Endo-Surgery is a leader in advanced energy solutions.  The company offers a broad portfolio of ultrasonic energy devices using HARMONIC® technology and advanced bipolar energy devices using ENSEAL® technology.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Ethicon Endo-Surgery develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, focusing on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. More information can be found at www.ethiconendosurgery.com.