Conmed, a medical products manufacturer specialising in surgical instruments and devices, has received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Altrus Thermal Tissue Fusion System, a tissue fusion device indicated for use in a wide range of surgical procedures.
The Altrus System utilises thermal energy and can be used to seal, cut, grasp and dissect vessel up to 7mm in size.
Conmed said the system is a multi-functional tool which reduces the need for multiple instruments and instrument changes.
It consists of a closed loop between the energy source and single-use handpiece which allows the surgeon to precisely control the desired effect on tissue.
Conmed president and CEO Joseph Corasanti said they look forward to introducing tissue sealing device, the Altrus Thermal Tissue Fusion System, to the surgical community.
"We believe the current marketplace for energy based instruments approximates $1.5bn, and while our initial revenue goals for Altrus in 2011 are modest at $5 – $10m, we expect Altrus to be a contributor to our long-term growth prospects," Corasanti said.