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ArthroCare Receives FDA Clearance for Spartan 5.5 Needled Suture Implant

^{Published on 2011-02-15 04:10:40 - Market Wire}
 

AUSTIN, Texas--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--ArthroCare Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTC), a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced today that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Spartan 5.5 Needled Anchor (Spartana"). Spartan is a preloaded threaded anchor indicated for use in fixation of soft tissue to bone, such as during a rotator cuff repair. The needled version is utilized for open repairs, whereas the non-needled version, for which FDA clearance has previously been received, is for arthroscopic repairs.

Spartan complements ArthroCarea™s line of anchors which can be used with ArthroCarea™s suture passing technology, such as FirstPass^®. It has a unique 5.5mm, screw-in design and can be used to perform single and double row repairs. Spartan is manufactured from PEEK, (polyether-etherketone), a material widely used in orthopedic implants. More than 400,000 patients undergo rotator cuff surgery annually in the U.S.

ABOUT ARTHROCARE

ArthroCare develops and manufactures surgical devices, instruments, and implants that strive to enhance surgical techniques as well as improve patient outcomes. Its devices improve many existing surgical procedures and enable new minimally invasive procedures. Many of ArthroCarea™s devices use its internationally patented Coblation^® technology. This technology precisely dissolves target tissue and limits damage to surrounding healthy tissue. ArthroCare also develops surgical devices utilizing other patented technology including its OPUS^® line of fixation products as well as re-usable surgical instruments. ArthroCare is leveraging these technologies in order to offer a comprehensive line of surgical devices to capitalize on a multi-billion dollar market opportunity across several surgical specialties, including its two core product areas consisting of Sports Medicine and Ear, Nose, and Throat as well as other areas such as spine, wound care, urology and gynecology.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information provided herein includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions by management and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement include, without limitation: the ability of the Company to fulfill its obligations with respect to the rights of the holders of the SeriesA Convertible Preferred Stock, including but not limited to the redemption rights and registration rights of the holders of the SeriesA Convertible Preferred Stock; the resolution of litigation pending against the Company; the Companya™s ability to design or improve internal controls to address issues detected in its reviews of internal controls and insurance reimbursement practices or by management in its reassessment of the Companya™s internal controls; the impact upon the Companya™s operations of legal compliance matters or internal controls review, improvement and remediation; the ability of the Company to control expenses relating to legal compliance matters or internal controls review, improvement and remediation; the Companya™s ability to remain current in its periodic reporting requirements under the Exchange Act and to file required reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission on a timely basis; the results of the investigation being conducted by the United States Department of Justice; the impact on the Company of additional civil and criminal investigations by state and federal agencies and civil suits by private third parties involving the Companya™s financial reporting and its previously announced restatement and its insurance billing and healthcare fraud-and-abuse compliance practices; the ability of the Company to attract and retain qualified senior management and to prepare and implement appropriate succession planning for its Chief Executive Officer; general business, economic and political conditions; competitive developments in the medical devices market; changes in applicable legislative or regulatory requirements; the Companya™s ability to effectively and successfully implement its financial and strategic alternatives, as well as business strategies, and manage the risks in its business; and the reactions of the marketplace to the foregoing.