LSUHSC Surgeon Performs History-Making Robotic Surgery on Baby

World first of a robotically-assisted type of abdominal surgery performed on 19-day-old infant at LSUHSC using Computer Motion, Inc. ZEUS robotic surgical system. ZEUS was used in the Sept. world first transatlantic telesurgery when a surgeon in New York operated on a patient located in France.

Shreveport, Louisiana, Jan. 23, 2002-- American robotic surgery pioneer, Celeste Hollands, M.D., of Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, made medical history again last week by correcting a stomach blockage in a 19-day-old infant using a robotic system called ZEUS® to perform the minimally invasive surgery.

The first such robotic surgery worldwide, the procedure conformed to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for use of Zeus, according to Dr. Hollands. The infant, a patient at LSU Hospital in Shreveport, is doing well.

   We were very pleased with the use of Zeus on this infant," she said. Thanks to advances in technology such as Zeus and miniaturization, patients like this baby today experience only a tiny incision rather than the major open surgeries that were necessary just a few years ago."

During the procedure, called a pyloromyotomy, Dr. Hollands stood at the Zeus console positioned next to the operating table and was able to use the controls that operate the arms"of the Zeus robot. Dr. Hollands performed the surgery while viewing a magnified video image from inside the patients body, on her console screen.

What is really important here is that the Zeus system may allow me to decrease surgical trauma to the patient, which translates into a shorter hospital stay and reduced costs, recovery pain and time for the patient," said Dr. Hollands.

Last weeks Zeus-assisted procedure marked the second time in 14 months that Dr. Hollands and her surgical team have performed history-making robotic surgical procedures.

   In November 2000, Dr. Hollands performed the first robotic general surgical procedure using Zeus in the United States to successfully remove a gall bladder in an adult patient with gall bladder disease. That procedure was part of a federally approved clinical study required for the Zeus system to gain FDA approval for use in certain surgeries on adults.

   The FDA gave limited approval for use of Zeus in October 2001. Dr. Hollands foresees future broad application of the robotic system in pediatric surgery, her surgical subspecialty.

According to Dr. Hollands, robotic surgery brings better control, steadiness, and precision to the surgical procedure and laparoscopic instruments. This is especially important when working on the small scale of pediatric surgery.

In fact, this infant was born with another more serious problem that required major open surgery through his right chest the day after he was born. The initial surgery will leave the baby with a large incision. When the Zeus system is fully approved for this type of surgery, surgeons will be able to spare patients the trauma of the large incision surgery and subsequent scarring.

The ZEUS® Robotic Surgical System is designed for minimally-invasive microsurgical procedures. ZEUS is a product of Computer Motion, Inc. (Nasdaq: RBOT), a high-tech medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets computer-enhanced and robotic surgical systems. A ZEUS system was used in the worlds first transatlantic telesurgery in September 2001 when a surgeon in New York operated on a patient located in France.

Contact:

LSU Health Sciences Center
     Elaine King, 318/675-5408

Computer Motion
     Juliana Minsky, SurfMedia Communications 805/962-5792, jm@surfmedia.com

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Note to Editors and Producers:
·   Please call to schedule in-person or telephone interview with Dr. Hollands.
·   BETA-SP video B-Roll of the actual surgery and interviews with surgeon and family of the baby is available upon request.