New Class of Instruments for Flexible Surgery from Apollo Endosurgery® Used in Cancer Therapy

AUSTIN, Texas, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Hospital Celebration Health announced this week the use of a new class of flexible surgical instruments created by Apollo Endosurgery®, to remove a stomach tumor and extract it through the patient's mouth. Following the two-hour surgery, the patient spent one night in the hospital and was prescribed Acetaminophen for pain. This is a stark contrast to minimally invasive or open surgeries which necessitate incisions and can require anywhere  from two to eight weeks of recovery time.

"Revolutionary cases like this one begin to reveal the potential of new flexible surgery techniques and tools designed to remove early stage lesions from the colon, esophagus, and stomach," says Jay Redan, MD, Medical Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Florida Hospital Celebration Health.

Development of flexible surgical instruments like the one used at Florida Hospital could not have been possible without the support and generous funding from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Dennis McWilliams, CEO and President for Apollo Endosurgery®, says, "Apollo Endosurgery is honored to be among the first of three companies in Texas to have received a commercialization grant from CPRIT. We've used these funds to advance therapeutic flexible endoscopy and other less invasive therapies. We're excited to see the application of our tools in the endoluminal removal of lesions from the stomach."

CPRIT is a state agency dedicated to expediting innovation and commercialization in the area of cancer research and to enhancing access to evidence-based prevention programs and services throughout Texas.  Learn more about the work of CPRIT at http://www.cprit.state.tx.us/.

To learn more about flexible surgery instruments, including the OverStitch® Endoscopic Suturing System and the SuMO™ Tissue Access and Resection System develop by Apollo Endosurgery®, visit www.apolloendo.com.

About Apollo Endosurgery®, Inc.

Apollo Endosurgery®, Inc. is dedicated to revolutionizing patient care through the development of flexible surgery, which is emerging from the convergence of laparoscopic surgery and therapeutic gastroenterology.  Flexible surgery minimizes the trauma of surgical access by taking advantage of natural orifices to deliver surgical tools to targeted areas.  All of Apollo's products are compatible with existing flexible endoscope platforms.  Apollo Endosurgery® was cofounded with the Apollo Group, a unique collaboration of physicians from the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins University, Medical University of South Carolina, the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.  The company is funded by PTV Sciences, H.I.G. Ventures and has received a grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas. 

For more information:
Ted Stephens
Director of Marketing
Apollo Endosurgery®, Inc.
512-328-9990 (o)
513-312-9161 (m)
www.apolloendo.com

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SOURCE Apollo Endosurgery, Inc.