MicroAire Introduces New SlimLine™ ECTR Cannula

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MicroAire Surgical Instruments announces the launch of its next-generation endoscopic treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome.  MicroAire's new device, called the SlimLine™, is a narrow cannula and blade assembly that allows surgeons to treat carpal tunnel syndrome through a tiny incision in the patient's wrist – thereby avoiding full open-hand surgery through the patient's palm. This type of minimally invasive surgery is called Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release, or ECTR.

MicroAire introduced the new minimally invasive SlimLine™ cannula as a component of its SmartRelease™ ECTR system during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, held last week in San Diego, California.

"Patients are looking for minimally invasive options for treating carpal tunnel syndrome. They know that knee surgery is performed through tiny incisions, so why not carpal tunnel surgery? Well, with this new, smaller device from MicroAire, more than ever before, endoscopic treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is a reality for patients in the United States and around the world," said Alan Connor, General Manager of Orthopaedic Specialties at MicroAire.

MicroAire's new SlimLine™ ECTR cannula retains the top-width of its original cannula, but the sides of the new cannula are angled downward and inward to reduce overall volume by 30%.  The angled sides are also designed to keep the median nerve below and away from the blade, which a surgeon elevates through the top of the cannula during the procedure.  The tip of the cannula is prow-shaped, like the front of a ship, and is designed for improved dissection of tenosynovium tissue during the procedure.

Because surgeons who perform ECTR observe the treatment on a video monitor, the new SlimLine™ cannula is also designed to improve the surgeon's field of view by up to 10% compared to MicroAire's previous cannula.

The new SlimLine™ cannula is compatible with MicroAire's SmartRelease™ ECTR system, and it is fully compatible with MicroAire's previous-generation ECTR system, called CTRS®.

The SlimLine™ also retains an important design feature of the original cannula called the Zone of Safety, which characterizes the angle of the blade's ascent when a surgeon elevates the blade.  Instead of swooping outward as it rises, the blade rises straight up at a 90-degree angle, so surgeons can be confident of the blade's location and its distance from surrounding tissue at all times.

MicroAire Surgical Instruments, located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of surgical products in four key areas:  Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release, Orthopaedic Power Instruments, Disposable Replacement Blades and Burs, and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. MicroAire is a team, dedicated to enhancing quality of life by providing innovative surgical solutions that improve surgeon and patient outcomes. For more information, visit www.microaire.com.

SOURCE MicroAire Surgical Instruments