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BD Launches Expanded Line of BD Visitec™ Single-Use Microsurgical Instruments and Customised Trays

Products offer cost savings and safety benefits for patients and healthcare workers

Oxford, UK (12 September, 2009) – BD Medical – Ophthalmic Systems, a unit of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today the worldwide launch of its expanded line of the BD Visitec™ stainless steel single-use instruments at the XXVII Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

With the addition of 30 new instruments and customised trays, healthcare facilities have the potential to increase efficiency by eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming re-sterilisation of each product.

“BD is pleased to expand our offering of single-use microsurgical instruments to meet the challenges of infection transmission prevention and help facilities around the world comply with strict safety requirements,” said Doug Lawrence, Vice President and General Manager, BD Medical - Ophthalmic Systems. “This launch reflects BD’s continued commitment to developing safety-engineered, single-use medical devices to protect patients and healthcare workers against the threat of cross contamination and bloodborne diseases.”

Concerns over the transmission of infectious agents during ophthalmic surgery have led to increased sterilisation regulations and the recommendation of single-use instruments. The French Health Ministry has adopted single-use instruments as the standard for infectious disease control in surgery.  Additionally, there is growing support throughout Europe to use single-use instruments in an effort to address potential risk of transmission of Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease. 

"In today's environment of increasing safety requirements and recommendations, single-use instruments provide a technical and economical solution,” stated Dr. Thierry Amzallag, Ophthalmic Institute of Somain, France.  “Single-use instruments are of great significance for the future of ophthalmic instruments."

BD is a pioneer in developing single-use solutions to meet the changing needs of ophthalmic surgery.  BD Visitec stainless steel instruments help to further patient and healthcare worker safety with high quality, innovative, safety-engineered products designed to eliminate the risk of transmitting infectious agents.  For more information, please visit: www.bd.com/ophthalmology.

About BD

BD is a leading global medical technology company that develops, manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents. The Company is dedicated to improving people's health throughout the world. BD is focused on improving drug delivery, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases and cancers, and advancing research, discovery and production of new drugs and vaccines. BD's capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the world's most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 28,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.

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