B. Braun Sutures

The right choice. Whatever the application.

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Wounds were once closed with leather, hair, animal sinews, linen thread, or

twisted serous membrane obtained from animal intestines. In fact, the first

sterile surgical sutures were created relatively recently: catgut, the

first-ever suture made specifically for surgical wound closure, was

developed in the late nineteenth century. Made from sheep’s intestines, it

was the world’s first sterile and completely absorbable suture. By 1906,

more than a hundred methods for sterilizing catgut existed. But none were

totally reliable, not for the sutures themselves, and even less for the sterile

catgut packaging for distribution. The breakthrough came in 1908 – when a

pioneering company created a technique able to guarantee the supply of

consistently sterile sutures to hospitals and other medical facilities. - this

company was B. Braun!

B. Braun Sutures. A century of excellence.

Experience 1

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The anniversary of a landmark eventA century ago, B. Braun, founded in 1839,joined forces with surgeon Dr. Franz Kuhnto develop the first-ever industrial methodof manufacturing sterile catgut.This enabled the large-scale production ofsterile sutures – without compromising onquality and made 1908 a landmark in thehistory of wound closure and surgery.

Spurred on by this success, B. Braun wenton to tackle other surgical challenges andto repeatedly set new standards. Fromwound closure, to hernia repair, to hemostasis – B. Braun products are nowessential to the day-to-day running of hospitals.

Exchanging information and expertise Aesculap, a division of B. Braun, maintainsas a core competency, the developmentand manufacture of products for thetreatment and closure of wounds. As avalued partner to surgeons and other medical professionals, Aesculap provides acomprehensive portfolio with solutions forall key surgical tasks. The product rangeincludes instruments for open and minimally invasive procedures, implants,sutures, storage, motors and navigationsystems, as well as products for interventional cardiology. In all areas, Aesculap actively seeks dialogue andexchange with surgeons and others acrossa wide variety of disciplines – an approachthat has already inspired many developments and innovations.

Groundbreaking technology A hundred years after the introduction ofthe first industrially-manufactured sterilesutures, B. Braun remains committed toinnovation and excellence in product-drivenresearch, development, and production.This guarantees that B. Braun sutures,manufactured at state-of-the-art plantsaround the world, are of consistently highquality.

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B. Braun has a remarkable track record of achievement in wound closure – from the

first-ever industrially manufactured suture, to Synthofil, the first non-absorbable,

synthetic suture, to the first tissue adhesive, Histoacryl®. B. Braun has evolved into a

one-stop provider of solutions for all surgical suture needs – with a comprehensive range

of absorbable and non-absorbable products.

B. Braun also custom-configures suture sets for specific types of wounds or users – which

are not only tailored to the task in hand, but also ideal for DRG-based reimbursement.

B. Braun Sutures. The right solution for every problem.

Versatility 2

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Did you know that there are morethan 20,000 thread and needlecombinations available?

B. Braun is committed to helpingsurgeons and other medical professionals find exactly the rightcombination for their specificneeds.

What’s more, B. Braun considersthe economic aspects of procedures– for example, achieving greaterefficiency through standardization,where appropriate.

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Flexibility through choiceAt B. Braun, we are dedicated to maximizing surgeons’ choice, and thereforeflexibility. After all, use of the most suitable suture for the specific tissue typeis a crucial factor in the healing process.That’s why we actively exchange ideas,information and expertise with usersacross all fields – resulting in the idealrange of state-of-the-art products.

Suture solutions for all your needsMonosyn® is suitable for all wounds requiring standard, braided absorbablesutures. Thanks to a winning combinationof longitudinal elasticity and tensilestrength during the critical healing period,Monosyn® is an increasingly popular choicewith many surgeons – especially for intestinal procedures, such as enteroenterostomy.

Each and every type of wound presents itsown set of challenges. For example, theMonoPlus® suture was developed specifically for abdominal wall closures,tendon repair, and vascular anastomosis ofautologous blood vessels. Exceptional longitudinal elasticity and

tissue-protecting qualities in slow-healingwounds with poor blood supply makeMonoPlus® the ideal choice for abdominalwall closure with continuous thread.Whatever your requirements, B. Braun hasthe right suture for you.

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B. Braun Sutures. Thinking ahead. Setting the pace.

The future belongs to monofilaments Until now, there has always been a clear distinction between the material propertiesof braided sutures and those of their mono-filament counterparts. Surgeonsopted for a specific material – with the corresponding strengths and weaknesses –depending on the procedure and wound.

Now, B. Braun has successfully married thebenefits of both braided and monofilamentsutures in just one monofilament range –generating extremely positive feedbackfrom practitioners in all surgical disciplines.

Braided sutures are likely to be around for awhile yet, but an increasing number of surgeons believe that the future belongs tomonofilament products. In addition to themost widely known benefits, medical professionals also increasingly cite the

lower risk of infection. This is attributableto the closed structure and the absence of capillary attraction, preventing pathogensfrom penetrating, or migrating through, thesuture – a critical factor in wound healing.

At B. Braun, we share these convictions –and will therefore continue to increase ourresearch and development efforts in thisfield.

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Our philosophy can be summed up with the words “Sharing Expertise.” We

are committed to making knowledge available to, and to exchanging

information and experience with people and organizations in healthcare

and medical research – on a daily basis. Ideas and input, requirements and

requests are incorporated into B. Braun research and development. Above

all, we focus on practical needs, and pay close attention to the feedback we

receive – to create the wound closures of the future.

Positioning 3

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The success of B. Braun’s wound closure technologies is founded on

in-depth knowledge and technical innovation. Because we see ourselves not

just as a manufacturer of state-of-the-art sutures, but as a partner who

finds complete answers to all your wound-closure questions – a partner

who takes time to understand your challenges, and finds tailor-made

solutions. That’s why we seek frank exchange with users on all levels and

across all disciplines. And that’s why we provide expert advice on selecting

the right sutures for you. Moreover, working hand-in-hand with you, we

develop new products, create task-specific sets, organize workshops and

deliver comprehensive on-site support.

B. Braun Sutures.Real-world answers to real-world questions.

Solutions 4

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Made-to-measureWe are committed to optimizing key operating-room processes and to makingthem safer for all concerned: for exampleby providing Pro Sets. A Pro Set comprisesa suture set and a procedure kit and is designed for a specific surgical application.Surgeons select not only the type and number of sutures and other materials, butalso specify how they are arranged – inother words, a sequence that correspondsto their usual working method. Moreover,Pro Sets support effective documentation,quality assurance and DRG-based reimbursement. And, of course, our expertscan provide on-site assistance – they willanalyze your requirements, and configure amade-to-measure Pro Set.

You’re part of our team, we’re part of yoursWhen developing CV PASS, our tissue-protecting vascular needle, we conducted in-depth discussions with experienced heart surgeons. Theyexplained their vision of the perfect vascular needle. And B. Braun Aesculapdevelopment engineers put their suggestions into practice – in record time.Within a matter of weeks, the first proto-types were already being tested inoperations. The results of the trials werethen used for a final round of development, where surgeons and development engineers worked closely torefine the needle. CV PASS is manufactured at Aesculap’s microneedleproduction center in Tuttlingen, Germany.

In terms of quality and usability, it meetsthe real-world needs of today’s heart surgeons – to the fullest.

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Benefit from our experience

For the design and development of CV PASS, we leveraged the B. BraunAesculap´s proven skills in the manufacture of leading-edge surgicalequipment. Our specialist knowledgeof metals, alloys and production processes enabled us to create a vascular needle of the highest quality.

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For beginners and experts alikeThe comprehensive range of courses available at the Aesculap Academy provides young medical professionals withvital skills, such as surgical knot-tying andsuture techniques. And with the help ofrealistic models and hands-on workshops,microsurgery specialists can gain theexpertise they need to perform complexvascular procedures. Paradigm shifts, suchas the introduction of endoscopy intomany fields of medicine, have necessitatedthe development of new wound-closure techniques. The Aesculap Academy’s compact training programs offer experienced surgeons the opportunity tolearn these new procedures.

Award-winning centers of excellenceThe Aesculap Academy’s advisory board,comprised of medical experts and managers of hospitals, is responsible forselecting subject matter and invitingspeakers. Events are recognized by professional associations and leadinginternational institutions. What’s more, in2007, Frost & Sullivan named AesculapAcademy the Global Medical ProfessionalEducation Institution of the Year, for thethird consecutive time – citing, in particular, the diversity and excellence ofthe courses. It is these strengths that havemade the Aesculap Academy a popularchoice with surgeons and other professionals seeking continuous medicaleducation.

World-class expertise – on your doorstepAesculap Academy facilities are found inaround 30 countries. Over 900 events areorganized annually, providing training formedical professionals across the globe. TheAesculap Academy was founded, and isstill headquartered, at the Aesculapium inTuttlingen, Germany. In fact, the AesculapAcademy not only has a major center inBerlin and in Singapore, but also trainingfacilities on all continents. The AesculapAcademy has official partnerships withuniversities and hospitals across the world.

For more information on the AesculapAcademy or to learn about current training programs, please visitwww.aesculap-academy.com

B. Braun Sutures.Putting theory into practice.

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A number of new courses will be added in 2008 within the scope of B. Braun’s activities to mark 100 years of industrially manufactured sterile sutures. These includethe fol lowing:

- Basic courses on surgical knot-tying and suture techniques- Hands-on training in endoscopic techniques- Workshops for microvascular surgery- And much more

The Aesculap Academy has been dedicated to interdisciplinary communication and

knowledge transfer since 1995. B. Braun offers courses and events for medical staff and

other healthcare professionals working in surgery, anesthetics, nursing – and for hospital

management. The broad program includes hands-on workshops, management seminars and

international symposia.

Training5

Aesculap, Inc.3773 Corporate ParkwayCenter Valley, PA 18034Phone: 800-282-9000

www.aesculapusa.com

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©2007 AESCULAP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PRINTED IN THE USA. DOC744 5M 9/07Aesculap is an equal opportunity employer