Titan Medical Inc. Announces the Appointment of Dr. W. Douglas Boyd as Principal Investigator
World-Renowned Cardiothoracic Surgeon to Lead Clinical Trials of Next Generation Robotic Surgery Platform
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/05/09 -- Titan Medical Inc. ("the Company") (TSX VENTURE: TMD), today announced that Dr. W. Douglas Boyd, M.D., head of Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Florida, has agreed to be the principal investigator for Amadeus® clinical trials. Dr. Boyd specializes in minimally invasive cardiac surgery and robotic surgery.
"I am extremely pleased to join Titan as the principal investigator for upcoming trials of Amadeus®," said Dr. Boyd. "The company's robotic surgical platform is indeed evolutionary and overcomes the technical hurdles that are currently faced by surgeons using robotics in surgery."
With the completion of Phase B development of the Amadeus® prototype, the Company has finalized its development plans for Phase C and is moving forward to complete the clinical-grade prototype which is projected to be completed in the last quarter of 2010.
"We are honored to have Dr. Boyd, a pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery and the use of robotic surgical systems, agree to expand his role from Medical Advisor of the Company to become the lead investigator of future Amadeus® trials," said Dr. Reiza Rayman, President of the Company. "As lead investigator, Dr. Boyd will be instrumental in the design and conduct of dry lab and clinical trials. His appointment further validates the potential Amadeus® will have in the operating room and the benefits that it will have among patients, hospitals and surgeons around the world."
About Dr. W. Douglas Boyd, M.D.
Dr. Douglas Boyd is Head of Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Florida. He is board certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in general and cardiothoracic surgery.
In 1999, Dr. Boyd completed the world's first closed-chest, beating-heart coronary artery bypass surgery with the use of the ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, and is recognized throughout the worldwide medical community for his pioneering work in cardiothoracic surgery and the use of robotic surgical systems.
As principal investigator in numerous clinical research trials, Dr. Boyd's research has focused on invasive robotic surgery, image guided minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery, minimally beating heart surgery, and improving patient safety in cardiac surgery. He has been an invited lecturer at regional, national and international symposia and conferences on his specialty interests. Dr. Boyd has authored or co-authored book chapters in medical textbooks on robotic cardiac bypass surgery and computer-assisted interventions among many other heart-related topics and has published numerous abstracts on his specialty interests.
Dr. Boyd has received numerous fellowships, scholarships and awards including a fellowship in Medical Education from the University of Ottawa and a fellowship in Transplantation/Mechanical Assist Devices from the Ottawa Heart Institute, where he was a Clinical Scholar. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada awarded him a fellowship in surgery and Washington University granted him a mini-fellowship in lung transplantation. He is named in the 2003 edition of Florida's Top Doctors. In 2004, Good Housekeeping Magazine named Cleveland Clinic Florida's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery as the "Top Cardiovascular Center in the Nation." In 2004, Castle-Connelly named him as one of America's Top Doctors in Cardiothoracic Surgery.
About Titan Medical Inc.: Titan Medical Inc. is a Canadian public company (TSX VENTURE: TMD) focused on the development and commercialization of robotic surgical technologies. The Company is currently developing Amadeus®, a next generation 4-armed robotic surgical system, with the objective of enabling surgeons to remotely manipulate surgical instruments. Robotic surgery has developed over the past 10 years into a proven and growing method of treatment. The global robotic surgical market size is currently estimated to be $3.4 billion with potential for placement of 6,000 robotic surgical systems. The Company is researching and developing innovative technologies to empower surgeons to use robots in the operating room of the future. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.titanmedicalinc.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which reflect the current expectations of management of the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Filing Statement dated July 8, 2008 (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in the news release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
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Contacts: Titan Medical Inc. Craig Leon Chief Executive Officer (416) 548-7522 (ext. 151) (416) 368-1608 (FAX) Email: cleon@titanmedicalinc.com Website: www.titanmedicalinc.com
Released May 5, 2009