- Company Announces Strategic Partnership with eTrauma -

UTICA, N.Y., March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CONMED Corporation (Nasdaq: CNMD) announced today that its subsidiary, Linvatec Corporation, a leader in sports medicine technology, will be launching fourteen new products at the annual conference of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) in San Francisco, March 10 - 14, 2004. The Company also announced a strategic co-marketing relationship with eTrauma, a developer and manufacturer of picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and electronic medical records (EMR) software. Through this partnership, ConMed(R) Integrated Systems will extend its Digital SMART OR(TM) integrated operating room offering to include eTrauma's OrthoPACS(R) digital communications product. These additions will enhance CONMED's arthroscopy, powered instrument and integrated systems product offerings. Following is a summary of the new products:

     * Further enhancing CONMED's position as a leader in arthroscopic
       imaging, the Company is introducing its 4th generation Autoclavable
       3-Chip Camera (3CCD) Video System.  This system has a new
       ergonomically designed camera head for improved comfort and
       functionality, Linvatec's ShockFlex(TM) Prism Mounting for durability,
       and Progressive Scan technology for high definition image quality.
       New companion product releases include a Xenon Light Source,
       VP1500-Release 2.0, and Video Cart.
     * The 10k(TM) Pump is the newest addition to the Company's line of fluid
       management products.  This new pump, designed for use in Arthroscopic
       joint distension as well as Laparoscopic irrigation, provides the
       optimum combination of user-friendliness, high performance and
       cost-effectiveness.
     * Adding to its extensive line of Advantage(R) Shaver Blades, the Company
       is introducing the UltraCut(R) Blade and the Curved Tiger(TM) Blade.
       These new shaver blades offer specialized solutions for Arthroscopic
       applications such as Notchplasty, Acromioplasty, Menisectomy and
       Chondroplasty.
        -- The UltraCut(R) Blade functions as both a soft tissue shaver and a
           bone cutter.
        -- The Curved Tiger(TM) Blade combines a precise cutting window design
           with a proprietary inner tube design, resulting in a soft tissue
           cutter that leaves a smooth resultant tissue margin.

    New Shoulder Products
     * Herculine(TM) is a new high-strength suture.  This performance fiber
       provides superior fixation for soft tissue repairs.  Offered initially
       in suture packs, Herculine will soon be integrated onto a number of
       Linvatec's suture anchors.
     * The Company will also be introducing a new Master Shoulder Instrument
       Set, which provides surgeons with a suture management system
       specifically designed for shoulder Arthroscopy.
     * The new Impact(TM) Suture Anchor is a bioresorbable SR(TM) (Self-
       Reinforced(TM)) PLLA polymer anchor specifically targeted for
       instability repair in the shoulder.  The unique key-lock insertion
       technique provides superior implant fixation.  This anchor can be
       utilized for Arthroscopic, mini-open, and open-shoulder reconstruction.
     * Also designed for instability repair in the shoulder, the new Pre-
       Loaded Bio-Anchor(R) is a molded PLLA press fit implant, which offers a
       new driver and enhanced implant interface.

    New Knee Products
     * The new Matryx(TM) Femoral Screw is a SR(TM) (Self-Reinforced(TM))
       biocomposite interference screw for ACL fixation.  Adding breadth to
       the Company's existing line of interference screws, implants such as
       this one, compounded with TCP (Tri-Calcium Phosphate), have been shown
       to promote osteoconduction of bone.
     * The SmartNail(R) 2.4mm is a SR(TM) bioresorbable nail used for
       cartilage repair.  This new size (2.4mm), coupled with an expanded
       Arthroscopic instrumentation system, further enhances the product
       offering.

    Powered Instruments - New PowerPro(R) System
     * The PowerPro(R) Pneumatic System is the latest addition to the
       Company's acclaimed PowerPro(R) product line.  With this product line
       addition, the Company is now able to offer the PowerPro(R) System in
       all power source options: Pneumatic, Battery and Electric.  Comprised
       of three new handpieces, the Pneumatic System works with the same
       modular attachments as the existing PowerPro(R) Battery and PowerPro(R)
       Electric II.  These handpieces were specifically designed to be small
       and light weight for Small Bone Orthopedics (Hand and Foot), Trauma,
       Arthroscopy (ACL reconstruction), and Maxillofacial Surgery, yet
       powerful enough for Large Bone Orthopedics (Hips and Knees).

    ConMed Integrated Systems - New Partnership with eTrauma

The Company's new strategic partnership with eTrauma further enhances the value of its Digital SMART OR(TM) integrated operating room offering. eTrauma's OrthoPACS product provides digital communications and storage of pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative images, including: X-Ray, CT, MRI and Endoscopic, which document medical conditions and surgical procedures. The combination of the Digital SMART OR(TM) imaging capabilities and eTrauma's OrthoPACS product constitutes a comprehensive electronic medical records offering.

Joseph J. Corasanti, President and Chief Operating Officer of CONMED commented, "Our innovative new orthopedic products, and the partnership with eTrauma, will continue to enhance the breadth of our offering and support our key initiatives of:

     * Leveraging our expertise in sports medicine to continue our market
       growth throughout the orthopedic product line.
     * Maintaining a strategic focus on standardization of products and
       integration of systems, thereby increasing operating room efficiency,
       productivity, and decreasing hospital costs.
     * Continuing to offer our customers the latest in technology and
       services."

Mr. Corasanti, added, "I am very pleased by our Company's ability to develop and release new products. Having been the first company to introduce the innovative 3 Chip Autoclavable Camera (3CCD) and a powered instrument system as superior as the PowerPro(R) line is, we are once again raising the bar with products like our Next Generation 3CCD System, and PowerPro(R) Pneumatic. Additionally, partnerships with technology driven companies like eTrauma further add value to our orthopedic and sports medicine product lines."

About CONMED:

CONMED is a medical technology company specializing in instruments, implants, and video equipment for arthroscopic sports medicine, and powered surgical instruments, such as drills and saws, for orthopedic, ENT, neuro-surgery, and other surgical specialties. The Company is also a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of RF electrosurgery systems used routinely to cut and cauterize tissue in nearly all types of surgical procedures worldwide, endoscopy products such as trocars, clip appliers, scissors, and surgical staplers. The Company offers integrated operating room design and intensive care unit service managers. The Company also manufactures and sells a full line of ECG electrodes for heart monitoring and other patient care products. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's 2,600 employees distribute its products worldwide from eleven manufacturing locations.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on certain assumptions and contingencies that involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company's performance on a going-forward basis. The forward-looking statements in this press release involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results, performance or trends, including the above mentioned anticipated revenues and earnings, to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures. The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that management's expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct. In addition to general industry and economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above, to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks relating to forward-looking statements discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002; (iii) cyclical purchasing patterns from customers, end-users and dealers; (iv) timely release of new products, and acceptance of such new products by the market; (v) the introduction of new products by competitors and other competitive responses; (vi) the possibility that any new acquisition or other transaction may require the Company to reconsider its financial assumptions and goals/targets; and/or (vii) the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.

SOURCE  CONMED Corporation
    -0-                             03/10/2004
    /CONTACT:  Robert Shallish, Chief Financial Officer of CONMED Corporation,
+1-315-624-3206; Investors: Deborah Ardern-Jones or Lanie Marcus, Media: Sean
Leous, all of Financial Dynamics, +1-212-850-5600, for CONMED Corporation /
    /Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/201850.html /
    /Web site:  http://www.conmed.com /
    (CNMD)

CO:  CONMED Corporation; Linvatec Corporation; eTrauma;
     American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
ST:  New York, California
IN:  HEA MTC BIO SPT
SU:  PDT

AA 
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2921 03/10/2004 07:01 EST http://www.prnewswire.com