Novare's EndoLink™ Articulating Instruments Named SLS Innovation Of The Year

Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Recognizes Novel Hand-Held Instruments for General, Gynecologic and Thoracic Surgery

CUPERTINO, Calif., September 8, 2005 - Novare Surgical Systems Inc., based here, today announced the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS) has named the company's EndoLink family of laparoscopic instruments as one of the 2005 Innovations of the Year. The award will be given at this year's 14th International Congress and Endo Expo to be held September 14th-17th at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The SLS recognizes the most innovative products of the year that have a multidisciplinary application to minimally invasive surgery.

"Novare is grateful to SLS for acknowledging the significance of the EndoLink technology to advocates of minimally invasive surgery," said Kerry Pope, Novare's president and chief executive officer. "Our company receives inquiries weekly from surgeons who are seeking access to EndoLink instruments for use in general surgery, thoracic surgery, gynecologic surgery or urological surgery. We are very excited about developing partnerships with innovative surgeons in so many specialties."

EndoLink
Providing the surgeon enhanced anatomical access and device control not available with traditional straight laparoscopic instruments, EndoLink surgical instruments are the first single-use hand-held instruments to incorporate six degrees of articulating freedom. Comprised of grasper, dissector, needle drive and scissors, the instruments are used in laparoscopic surgery to enable minimally invasive approaches in gastric bypass, cardiac bypass, laparoscopic hysterectomy, pulmonary lobectomy and other general and urologic procedures. Unlike traditional endoscopic instruments that feature four degrees of freedom - up/down, left/right, rotation, and in/out actuation, the EndoLink instruments also feature the ability to move the wrist left/right and up/down. The additional two degrees of freedom enables a whole new class of minimally invasive procedures, and can significantly reduce the complexity and shorten the learning curve of a number of existing high-volume minimally invasive procedures.

Paul G. Curcillo, II, M.D., Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery, Director of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, said, "The achievement of six degrees of motion at the end of a 5mm hand-held instrument not only improves dexterity of laparoscopy in the abdomen, chest, pelvis and retroperitoneum, but it has the potential of exploring new areas in otorhinolaryngology, arthroscopy and endoscopy. EndoLink could become a standard addition to all laparoscopic trays in the operating room."

Katherine A. O'Hanlan, M.D., a nationally-recognized gynecologic surgeon at Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, Calif., added, "Regardless of anatomical difficulty, EndoLink's easy rotational flexibility enables smooth and safe performance where risk of ureteral or vascular injury is highest. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy can now become a safe, commonly performed procedure with the capabilities offered by EndoLink."

About The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons was established as an educational, non-profit organization to help ensure the highest standards for the practice of laparoscopic, endoscopic and minimally invasive surgery. The Society serves surgeons from various specialties and other health professionals who are interested in advancing their expertise in the diagnostic and therapeutic uses of laparoendoscopic and minimally invasive surgical techniques. With an international membership of over 6,000 surgeons, the organization offers a unique approach to the study and education of minimally invasive surgery by bringing together different medical specialties that use the techniques and tools of minimally invasive surgery.

About Novare Surgical Systems Inc.
Based in Cupertino, Calif., Novare Surgical Systems Inc. was founded in 1999 to develop, manufacture and market proprietary devices for minimally invasive and traditional surgical procedures. The company offers the Intrack® family of atraumatic occlusion devices, which includes the Engage®, Cygnet®, Novaclip® and Greyhound® product lines. Enclose®, an assist device for multiple proximal anastomoses in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, was introduced in 2002. For more information, visit the company's web site at http://www.novaresurgical.com.