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Ethicon Receives Prestigious Awards for Innovation in Design, Sustainability Improvements
[April 16, 2015]

Ethicon Receives Prestigious Awards for Innovation in Design, Sustainability Improvements


Ethicon* is honored to accept two exciting awards on behalf of its Energy Product line. ENSEAL® G2 (News - Alert) Articulating Tissue Sealers have received the prestigious iF DESIGN AWARD 2015 from the iF International Design Forum in Hamburg, Germany, and Ethicon's HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears have been awarded Product of the Year by the Environmental Leader Product and Project Awards.

ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Device (Photo: Business Wire)

ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Device (Photo: Business Wire)

ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers Receives iF DESIGN AWARD 2015

iF International Design Forum in Hamburg, Germany, recently presented ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers with the prestigious international iF DESIGN AWARD 2015. Recognized as one of the top awards in the global design industry, iF International Design Forum selected ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers among more than 4,700 entries from 53 countries as this year's design award recipient.

"We value this recognition from the iF International Design Forum," said Steve Eichmann, Director of Research & Development, Industrial Design and Human Factors. "We are particularly proud of the strategic design and customer-driven innovation that ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers bring to both patients and healthcare providers. This honor also represents a long history of our commitment to developing award-winning solutions that are shaping the future of how we deliver surgery."

The iF DESIGN AWARD recognizes the ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers for an innovative design that enables surgeons to access tissue in deep or tight spaces as well as maneuver around corners and behind structures in the body. This is the first articulating advanced energy device of its kind, enabling surgeons to use a perpendicular approach to cut and seal vessels up to 7mm in diameter and lymphatics through a 5mm port. A flexible joint articulates 55 degrees on either side (for a total 110 degrees of articulation) without sacrificing shaft stiffness, while an articulation wheel enables users to lock the desired angle of approach into position for stability.

A 53-member jury of international experts for the iF DESIGN AWARD 2015 reviewed and carefully analyzed each entry for 75 Gold awards in five categories. ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers received the iF DESIGN AWARD 2015 in the surgical device category. The official presentation ceremony for the iF DESIGN AWARD 2015 was held on February 27, 2015, in Munich, Germany. Winning products join a permanent display at the iF design exhibition in Hamburg. All winners can also be seen on the iF website, www.ifdesign.de.

Since 1953, iF has been dedicated to organizing fair, independent and reputable design awards and has gained a top position in the internationl award spectrum. Representing excellent design and outstanding design achievements, the iF seal of quality is recognized the world over, with registrants ranging from automotive companies to individual design studios.



ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers were also recognized in 2014 for innovation in design with a Bronze International Design Excellence Award (IDEA) from the International Designers Society of America (IDSA).

HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears Awarded "Product of the Year" by Environmental Leader


The HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears were awarded Product of the Year by Environmental Leader for sustainability improvements made in the redesign of the existing HARMONIC FOCUS®. By incorporating Johnson & Johnson's Earthwards® approach, Ethicon sought to improve customer experience with both higher performance and reduced lifecycle impacts. Improvements with the HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears, rooted in meeting unmet customer needs, enable faster cutting, improved visibility with a slimmer profile and a cooler thermal profile while activating energy.

Launched in 2014, the HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears are a prime example of how the Earthwards® approach can improve a product, and achieve better health, environmental and financial outcomes for Ethicon customers. Today, surgeons report better use of the new product and the HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears have contributed to a 5.6 percent growth of the overall FOCUS line. By reducing device material by 25 percent and packaging by 22 percent, the HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears decreased hospitals' hazardous waste by six lbs. per 100 devices, and reduced transportation and storage costs.

"Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to our customers," said Karin Bergqvist, Senior Marketing Manager at Ethicon. "In addition to improving the clinical experience in the development of HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears, we also were able to apply the Earthwards® approach and think about how we could incorporate sustainability improvements in development. The result for our customers is a better product, both clinically and non-clinically."

The Earthwards® approach is a Johnson & Johnson program addressing the impacts of products, throughout their lifecycles. The approach applies to all new products and packaging at Johnson & Johnson, and in its broadest application, works to ensure regulatory compliance with all relevant product stewardship regulations and deliver on high standards at Johnson & Johnson. After ensuring compliance, Earthwards® seeks to use lifecycle thinking to identify and implement significant sustainability improvements to our products. HARMONIC FOCUS® + Shears achieved Earthwards® recognition in 2014. To learn more about the Earthwards® approach, visit www.earthwards.com.

Environmental Leader (EL) is a leading daily trade publication that keeps corporate executives informed about energy, environment and sustainability news. The publication's annual Product & Project Awards recognize excellence and innovation in products and services that provide companies with environmental and energy benefits.

Ethicon's Energy Platform

Ethicon is the proven leader in advanced energy with more than 17 million procedures performed worldwide, and the most complete advanced energy portfolio for open and laparoscopic procedures across multiple surgical specialties. Through innovation at every touchpoint from ideation to the surgeon's hand, Ethicon offers the broadest range of ultrasonic energy devices using HARMONIC® technology and advanced bipolar energy devices employing our distinct ENSEAL® technology. Click here to learn more.

About Ethicon

From creating the first sutures, to revolutionizing surgery with minimally invasive procedures, Ethicon has made significant contributions to surgery for nearly 60 years. Our continuing dedication to Shape the Future of Surgery is built on our commitment to help address the world's most pressing health care issues, and improve and save more lives. Through Ethicon's surgical technologies and solutions including sutures, staplers, energy devices, trocars and hemostats and our commitment to treat serious medical conditions like obesity and cancer worldwide, we deliver innovation to make a life-changing impact. Learn more at www.ethicon.com, and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Ethicon.

* Ethicon represents the products and services of Ethicon, Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC and certain of their affiliates. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. is the legal manufacturer of ENSEAL® G2 Articulating Tissue Sealers and HARMONIC® FOCUS + Shears.


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