Arthroscopic Surgery “Goes with the Flow” Thanks to Bayer MaterialScience’s Polycarbonate and the Cannuflow EntreVu® EX

Anaheim, CA, February 14, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Patients undergoing hip or shoulder surgery may choose arthroscopic surgery, if their condition permits. While a less invasive procedure, arthroscopic surgery is not without its complications. For example, soft tissue fluid retention, or extravasation, is a common problem during arthroscopy.

Cannuflow, a leader in innovative access and fluid management devices for arthroscopy, has brought a new cannula surgical access portal to the surgeon’s table. The EntreVu® EX is a clear arthroscopic access cannula body for effective visualization of sutures and surgical knots.

For its EntreVu EX, Cannuflow chose Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s Makrolon® Rx1452 polycarbonate due to its clarity, which helps the surgeon easily see surgical knots, as well as its moldability and biocompatibility. This grade of Makrolon resin meets requirements of the FDA-modified ISO 10933, Part 1, tests for biocompatibility in select tints and colors and is USP Class VI compliant. Makrolon Rx1452 plastic also offers additional important properties, such as low viscosity, easy release, high strength and toughness.

According to Cannuflow, Bayer’s material is performing excellently in both moldability and functionality. Makrolon Rx1452 polycarbonate offers increased design flexibility over other plastic options for complicated medical products with difficult-to-fill molds and parts with shallow drafts.

EntreVu EX is the only cannula in the world featuring Cannuflow Extravastat® technology, according to Cannuflow. It acts as a channel to wick away irrigation fluid that could leak from the joint into the muscle tissue during hip or shoulder surgery, causing painful swelling and post-surgical complications. Using this device can reduce swelling which in turn can reduce post-operative pain. In addition, the EntreVu EX cannula prevents fluid from leaking during surgery, making difficult procedures easier, according to Cannuflow.

“We worked closely with Cannuflow to provide technical expertise and a material with properties that fit their product’s unique design,” said Bruce Fine, market segment leader, Medical and Consumer Products – Polycarbonates, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “The EntreVu EX cannula formed with Makrolon polycarbonate offers medical professionals a new technology for patient care during surgery.”

Bayer’s Makrolon polycarbonate proved to be a key aspect of making Cannuflow’s product vision a reality. “We chose Bayer’s Makrolon polycarbonate for its ease of molding, which allows low-profile wall sections and long core pulls. This made it possible for us to make a two-layer cannula with significant added functionality without an increase of outer diameter compared with the generic cannulas surgeons previously used,” said Ted Kucklick, CEO and designer of the patented EntreVu EX cannula.

Cannuflow’s EntreVu EX can be easily incorporated into a surgeon’s existing surgical process and is compatible with currently used equipment.

About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,800 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2011 sales of 10.8 billion euros. Bayer MaterialScience’s 2011 sales in North America were $2.9 billion. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

About Cannuflow:
Cannuflow is the innovation leader in access and fluid management devices for more efficient, safer, minimally invasive orthopedic surgery. Cannuflow makes ClearVu®, the gold standard flexible cannula for three portal knee arthroscopy, TwoVu® for single-portal inflow and outflow in knees and shoulders, and the revolutionary EntreVu® with clinically proven Extravastat® technology. EntreVu is the only cannula that actively controls and removes potentially dangerous fluid extravasation in shoulder and hip arthroscopy.

Contact:
John Skabardonis, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: john.skabardonis@bayer.com

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC's medical polycarbonates, call 1-800-662-2927, email pcinfo@bayer.com or visit www.bmsnafta.com.

For more information about Cannuflow, call 408-764-0220 email tkucklick@cannuflow.com or visit http://www.cannuflow.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.