Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc (EES), a US-based company which develops advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, has introduced a new Echelon Flex 45 Endopath stapler intended to provide surgeons with improved access and compression when deploying a 45 mm staple line, the most utilized endocutter length in the United States for laparoscopic surgery. The company's Echelon Flex Endopath staplers deliver system-wide compression, natural articulation and optimal staple formation in a variety of tissue thickness. Endocutters are used to cut and staple tissue in a variety of surgical procedures, including bariatric, thoracic, colorectal, gynecologic, urologic and general surgery. EES will introduce the new Echelon Flex 45 Endopath 45 mm stapler, which is already available with a 60 mm staple line, at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons' (SAGES) 12th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery.

Compression is a critical factor in successful surgical stapling. Prior to stapling, applying compression over time exudes fluid from tissue, which helps ensure a more consistent thickness in the targeted tissue. After tissue is compressed, it is ready to accommodate a securely closed staple. Proper staple formation is necessary to achieve a leak-proof and haemostatic staple line. A staple is considered malformed when the legs of the staple do not close properly after deployment.

Since the introduction of the Echelon Flex 60 Endopath stapler, EES has found that, when used in thick tissue (tissue between 3 mm and 5 mm), the average staple line from the Echelon Flex 60 Endopath stapler has significantly fewer malformed staples than a leading competitor. EES staplers are uniquely designed with system-wide compression to gently and uniformly compress along the entire length of targeted tissue.

"When staples are malformed or don't seem secure, it can cause concern and may result in additional intervention from the surgeon to remove and replace them," said Larry Sasaki, at North Louisiana Surgery Center & Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport. "The reliability of staple lines, particularly in thick tissue, is an important element in the overall success of a surgical procedure. New innovations that may deliver more consistency and capability in this area can help surgeons improve outcomes."

Ethicon Endo-Surgery implements Halsted's principles of surgery - the importance of haemostasis, adequate blood supply and the gentle handling of tissue for safe and effective surgery - when developing advanced surgical products. Understanding the properties of living tissue is critical to the EES approach to surgical stapling as devices are specially designed to minimize trauma so that tissue can return to its natural state once the pressure is removed.

Ethicon Endo-Surgery also develops and markets advanced medical devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynaecology and surgical oncology.