UTICA, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 05/21/12 -- CONMED Corporation (CNMD) today announced that its CONMED Endoscopic Technologies business unit will formally launch multiple new medical devices at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW®) conference in San Diego, CA on May 20-22, 2012, as well as the Society for Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) Annual Course in Phoenix, AZ on May 18-23, 2012.

"CONMED has been energizing therapeutic endoscopy and provided important medical solutions to the global GI community for over 20 years," said Mark Donovan, Vice President of the CONMED Endoscopic Technologies business unit. "The launch of six new, important products at DDW and SGNA this week underscores our continued commitment to delivering critical advancements for GI physicians, and their patients."

The following products are being launched at DDW/SGNA:

ClearView™ EUS FNA System - CONMED Endoscopic Technologies ClearView™ Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) needle features Twist Lock Technology (TLT™), which allows the physician to adjust the sheath and needle piston with one hand, while current technology requires thumb screws to secure the pistons. ClearView's laser-treated needle tip also provides enhanced visualization for the physician. CONMED Endoscopic Technologies offers a full range of EUS needles -- 19g, 22g and 25g. EUS is one of the fastest growing segments in the GI market.

BiCap III™ - BiCap III™ Electrosurgical Unit (ESU) incorporates CONMED's Dynamic Response technology, which reacts to different tissue impedances in less than one millisecond, ensuring a consistent delivery of power and clinical effect while minimizing surrounding tissue damage. This GI-focused unit brings modern day ESU Technology into the GI Lab in an economical and user-friendly format.

EnTake™ PEG - CONMED has extended its highly sought after EnTake™ gastrostomy product line to include initial placement kits without drugs. Facilities often already have lidocaine on hand and, therefore, have no need for it to be included in the kits. Without the lidocaine, EnTake™ ND offers an economical solution, as well as longer shelf life.

ClearGuard™ - The ClearGuard™ Biopsy Valve is designed to help reduce cross-contamination from bodily fluids and eliminates the need for reprocessing valves. ClearGuard helps maintain luminal insufflations while restricting backflow during a procedure.

Optimizer™ Polyp Trap - CONMED Endoscopic Technologies has extended its Optimizer Polyp Trap line, another highly sought after product. The Optimizer Polyp Trap is renowned for its versatility with four independent, selectable trap chambers, along with four multiple direct bypass channels. Each chamber has visual markers for identification. Optimizer Polyp Trap is individually packaged for single patient use to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Enteroscope SpiderNet™ - CONMED Endoscopic Technologies has extended its SpiderNet line with the introduction of the enteroscopic version. SpiderNet's pouch delicately closes around the specimen during retraction, reducing the risk of loss or damage. When wet, the net material becomes translucent for enhanced endoscopic visibility. An atraumatic net configuration, SpiderNet minimizes the potential for minced specimen or crushed artifact.

CONMED Profile

CONMED is a medical technology company with an emphasis on surgical devices and equipment for minimally invasive procedures and monitoring. The Company's products serve the clinical areas of arthroscopy, powered surgical instruments, electrosurgery, cardiac monitoring disposables, endosurgery and endoscopic technologies. They are used by surgeons and physicians in a variety of specialties including orthopedics, general surgery, gynecology, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology. Headquartered in Utica, New York, the Company's 3,400 employees distribute its products worldwide from several 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, 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, 2011; (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; (vii) increasing costs for raw material, transportation of litigation; (viii) the risk of a lack of allograft tissues due to reduced donations of such tissues or due to tissues not meeting the appropriate high standards for screening and/or processing of such tissues; and/or (ix) the Company's ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions.