Ethicon launches power stapler enabling extra control and precision for complex surgeries

Building on the success of the ECHELON FLEX™ 60mm Powered Plus Stapler with Gripping Surface Technology (GST), Ethicon, a leading global provider of medical devices, has announced the launch of its ECHELON FLEX™ GST System (45mm) across Europe. 

With this addition, the ECHELON FLEX™ GST System now offers both 45mm and 60mm endocutters with reloads, which is of mounting importance as more complex surgeries are being performed through minimally invasive approaches.

The increasing prevalence of lung and bowel cancer, in conjunction with rising rates of obesity could mean that more patients will need surgery. Bowel and lung cancer are the first and second most common forms of cancer in Europe, affecting 471,001 and 449,000¹ people each year respectively – while obesity rates have also risen dramatically, nearly doubling between 1980 and 2008, with roughly 23% of women and 20% of men now classified as clinically obese.² Many of these patients have specific needs during surgery due to diseased or therapeutically compromised tissue, and consequently, surgeons need equipment that will allow extra control and precision.

“The addition of 45mm length to the ECHELON FLEX™ GST portfolio is a demonstration of Ethicon’s commitment to addressing increasingly complex variables in oncology and metabolic surgical cases, while the wider range of reload selection means surgeons may have the ability to select the most optimal reload and length” said Silvia De Dominicis, Ethicon Franchise Vice President for EMEA. “With the prevalence of disease states such as cancer and obesity steadily rising, we will continue to innovate to help support health systems in meeting the Triple Aim goals of reducing costs, enhancing patient outcomes and increasing patient satisfaction”. 

Exceptional staple line integrity now across a range of tissue thicknesses with each reload,³ the ECHELON FLEX™ GST System (60mm) controls tissue movement with pre-compression and Gripping Surface Technology, and has shown to capture both layers of the mucosa during firing better than the other leading endocutter on the market, designed to optimise tissue for healing.⁴

References

1. World Health Organization. GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Prevalence Worldwide in 2012 http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx
2. World Health Organization. Obesity Factsheet http://www.who.int/gho/ncd/risk_factors/obesity_text/en/
3. Porcine tissue thickness measured at 8g/mm2 prior to firing.  Tissue comfortably compressed to closed staple height per IFU. PRC066855 Design Verification Test. August 2014. PRC076031 Tissue Performance Design Verification Test of 45mm Gripping Surface Technology (GST) Reloads with Echelon Flex 45mm Powered Plus Staplers. September 2016. Ethicon Data on File (020293-161103)
4. GST System Blue and Green Reloads compared to Endo GIA with Tri Staple™ Technology Purple Reloads evaluated via gross observations of firings in 1.5mm to 3.0mm thick animate porcine ileum.  Average apposition ratings 2.81 (GST60B) and 2.56 (GST60G) vs 3.23 (EGIA60AMT), p=0.001. PSB004500 – Compare compression damage and mucosal injury created during the firing of endoscopic stapling devices. August 2016. Ethicon Data on File (057886-160810)