Andrew Technologies Announces Positive Results of First-ever Visceral Lipectomy Safety Study

TUSTIN, Calif., Aug. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --  Andrew Technologies, LLC conducted the first-ever animal safety study to demonstrate that visceral fat can be safely and precisely removed with an energy assisted surgical device. Visceral fat is the metabolically active fat inside the body that causes metabolic syndrome, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other disorders. The study employed the company's proprietary Tissue Liquefaction Technology (TLT) to surgically remove visceral fat in two Mangalista pigs, via laparoscopic technique. This application is currently under investigation by Andrew Technologies, and is not an FDA approved use for the company's new HydraSolve^® Lipoplasty System, which is cleared to remove subcutaneous (under the skin) fat.

Visceral fat surrounds the kidneys and other organs; and collects in the mesentery (the connective tissue around the intestines). There is convincing scientific evidence that the presence of visceral fat is highly correlated with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Alzheimer's and many other disorders. The medical community has postulated for a few decades that removal of sufficient quantities of this metabolically active visceral fat might reverse the risk of some or all of these diseases. However, research in this area has been confounded because of the inability to safely remove these fatty deposits, due to the presence of significant blood vessels and nerves within these fat deposits, as well as the close proximity of this fat to vital organs and structures. In the Tissue Liquefaction Technology (TLT) safety study, this operation did not affect post-surgical ambulation, appetite, bowel movements or any other activities of the treated animals. Additionally physical examination of all organs and histological analysis did not show any significant risk from the procedure. Full results will be reported at an upcoming surgical conference.

Dr. Mark S. Andrew, who co-invented Tissue Liquefaction Technology™, AquaLase^® Liquefaction Device, and HydraSolve™ Lipoplasty System is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Andrew Technologies and has been directly involved in all of the research and development of Tissue Liquefaction Technology for various treatments. According to Dr. Andrew, "The target tissue specificity of our non-cutting Tissue Liquefaction Technology has enabled a skilled surgeon to safely remove visceral fat for the first time in the scientific literature without damage to organs, blood vessels or nerves. We are thrilled to support research in this breakthrough area, and look forward to demonstrate future health benefits of this potential new surgical modality."

Dr. Noel N. Williams, Professor of Surgery and Director, Penn Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery Program at The University of Pennsylvania was the surgeon in this study and added, "Visceral fat has long been recognized for its contribution to metabolic diseases; but surgical removal of this fat has not been possible with existing technology, other than the greater omentectomy procedure. I was very impressed with the atraumatic effect of TLT in safely removing this deadly fat. This technology may enable surgeons to remove mesenteric visceral fat, and also possibly even retroperitoneal visceral fat, something that was not feasible with existing technology.  More work needs to be done and I look forward to continued progress in developing this potential new surgical technique."

About HydraSolve^®

HydraSolve^® is a novel liposuction device based on the same patented Tissue Liquefaction Technology™ that was launched in 2003 by Alcon as the AquaLase^® Liquefaction Device, a modality on the Infiniti Vision System, for precision cataract surgery. Hydrasolve^® combines natural saline solution with low levels of pressure and temperature, to liquefy only targeted fat tissue. Because fat tissue is liquefied, the cutting of fat by forceful thrusts of the cannula is no longer required. The specially designed HydraSolve^® cannula is manufactured with aperture edges that have a rounded radius of curvature that do not cut tissue.  It is the energized saline stream, inside the cannula, that liquefies targeted fat tissue while not liquefying or cutting blood vessels, nerves or connective tissue. HydraSolve^® achieves liquefaction of fat tissue by cell disaggregation, not by emulsification and the lysing of cell membranes.

About Andrew Technologies, LLC

Andrew Technologies, founded in 2007, is a medical technology company committed to improving patients' lives through body aesthetics and pursuit of surgical applications of Tissue Liquefaction Technology. Andrew Technologies is a venture capital funded company based in Orange County, CA and Haddonfield, NJ. Our primary investors are WFD Ventures http://www.wfdventures.com/ and NJTC Venture Fund http://www.njtcvc.com/ .

SOURCE Andrew Technologies, LLC