New Ethicon stapling solution provides least tissue slippage during firing

Oct 29 2014

The Next Evolution in Staplers Offers the Least Tissue Slippage during Firing

Ethicon announced today the launch of the ECHELON FLEX GST SYSTEM, a new powered stapler and reload system uniquely designed to provide a better grip on tissue for the least tissue slippage during firing. The device will be featured at The American College of Surgeons Clinical Conference in San Francisco this week.

Tissue movement or slippage during firing can result in poorly formed and spaced staples as well as the need for extra firings to complete the intended tissue transection. Through proprietary Gripping Surface Technology (GST), the ECHELON FLEX GST System provides a more secure hold on tissue to deliver four times less tissue slippage for more targeted tissue transections and the potential to eliminate one reload per procedure— which may provide enhanced economic value. Less tissue slippage during firing also results in consistent staple formation across a range of tissue thicknesses with each reload.

“Surgeons have long needed a stapling solution that enables reliable performance and staple line security without potential risk of additional tissue trauma, particularly in bariatric surgery procedures such as sleeve gastrectomy, where they may encounter an unexpected variance in tissue thickness,” said Dr. Elliott Fegelman, Senior Medical Director at Ethicon. “The exciting aspect of the ECHELON FLEX GST System is that you now have optimal compression integrated with better grasping during the firing sequence. This means consistent staple formation, which may help reduce the risk of a leak or bleeding across broad range tissue thicknesses thereby reducing the potential for complications.”

The ECHELON FLEX GST System is the latest offering in Ethicon’s ECHELON FLEX Line of Powered Endocutters. Built on the stability of a powered firing, the system provides 88% less movement at the end effector and potentially less trauma to adjacent tissue.

The ECHELON FLEX GST System includes the ECHELON FLEX™ Powered Plus Stapler and the ENDOPATH ECHELON™ Reloads with Gripping Surface Technology. Designed for bariatric, colorectal and thoracic procedures, the ECHELON FLEX GST System is now available to customers in the U.S. and will be introduced globally beginning in the first quarter of 2015.

Benefits of the ECHELON FLEX GST SYSTEM include:

• 4x less tissue slippage during firing compared to Endo GIA™ Reloads with Tri-Staple™ technology for unsurpassed staple performance

May eliminate 1 reload per procedure due to less tissue slippage during firing

Delivers a more targeted tissue transection with each firing

• Only system that provides uniform closed staple height for exceptional staple line integrity now across a range of tissue thicknesses with each reload

• Exclusive reloads with Gripping Surface Technology, offering a proprietary ridged surface to provide an atraumatic grip that holds tissue in place during firing.