Zimmer to Market Innovative Pain Management System
Zimmer Enters Distribution Agreement with Sorenson Medical and Amtec Medical
(Warsaw, IN - March 12, 2001) Zimmer, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY), will market an innovative pain management system for infusions into surgical sites, according to terms of an agreement with Sorenson Medical of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Amtec Medical of Austin, Texas.
Patients having undergone a surgical procedure use the Palm Pump™ Pain Management System to help control post-operative pain, speed their rehabilitation and decrease their length of stay.
Different surgical procedures require individualized pain management. The Palm Pump is an accurate, electronic, ambulatory Patient Controlled Anesthesia (PCA) pump for the infusion of medication delivery to the surgical site. The new lightweight, Palm Pump provides programming and reprogramming flexibility of infusion rates, bolus volumes, lockout times, and volume capacity. Customizing the infusion profile helps improve anesthetic spread, increasing relief from breakthrough pain and often diminishes the need for systemic narcotics and facilitates rehabilitation.
"By better managing pain during rehabilitation, we can help return patients to productive lives more quickly following surgery," said Ray Elliott, Zimmer president. "We are pleased to be adding this innovative post-operative pain management infusion system that is an especially good fit with our thrust in minimally invasive procedures. This product allows Zimmer to strengthen its support for surgeons and their patients after the operative procedure."
Zimmer said that there are more than eight million surgical procedures each year that require post-operative pain management, including approximately four million orthopaedic and arthroscopic procedures.
Zimmer, based in Warsaw, Indiana, designs, manufactures and distributes orthopaedic implants and related equipment and supplies. The company provides a broad range of joint replacement, fracture management and patient care products. Founded in 1927, Zimmer became a member of the Bristol-Myers Squibb family of companies in 1972.
Amtec Medical, Inc. of Austin, Texas, is a privately held distributor of hospital and home health products.
Sorenson Medical, Inc. designs, manufactures and markets innovative medical devices for use in healthcare facilities and alternate sites. They are headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
*Palm Pump is a trademark of Sorenson Medical, Inc.
