MTMD Microtek Medical Hldgs (MM)

Microtek Medical Holdings Enters Into Manufacturing Services Agreement With Intuitive Surgical ALPHARETTA, Ga., March 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:MTMD) today announced that it has entered into a manufacturing services agreement with Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG). Under the agreement, Microtek will supply Intuitive Surgical with several of its leading infection control products, including sterile disposable draping products and accessories, which will be used in conjunction with Intuitive Surgical's leading operative surgical robotic equipment. Microtek Medical and Intuitive Surgical first began their collaborative efforts in 1999. Over the last five years, the relationship between Microtek Medical and Intuitive Surgical has steadily grown and, in anticipation of further expansion, was recently formalized into a manufacturing services agreement. Microtek Medical and Intuitive Surgical are both deeply committed to improving the quality of patient care in the surgical environment and decreasing rates of infection following surgical procedures. Combining Microtek's infection control products and accessories with Intuitive Surgical's operative surgical robotic equipment better enables surgeons to perform surgical procedures while minimizing the invasive aspects of certain surgeries. As a result, patients experience faster recovery times, reduced trauma, lower levels of anesthesia and reduced risk of infection. Dan R. Lee, Microtek's President and CEO, commented, "We are very proud of our long-standing relationship with Intuitive Surgical, a company that shares our commitment to innovation and excellence. We are also very excited about formalizing that relationship with this agreement which emphasizes our advanced manufacturing capabilities, our innovative product offerings and our steadfast commitment to customer service and satisfaction. Expanding Microtek Medical's relationships with market leaders such as Intuitive Surgical is a key aspect of our business strategy. We look forward to this and future partnering opportunities with Intuitive Surgical." About Microtek The Company, a market leader in the healthcare industry, develops, manufactures and sells infection control products, fluid control products and safety products to healthcare professionals for use in environments such as operating rooms and outpatient surgical centers. About Intuitive Surgical Founded in 1995, Intuitive Surgical manufactures and distributes operative surgical robotic equipment based on technology developed at SRI International (formerly known as Stanford Research Institute). The Company's da Vinci(R) Surgical System was the first totally "intuitive" laparoscopic surgical robot, enabling surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and taking surgical precision and technique beyond the limits of the human hand(R). More than 286 da Vinci Systems are in use in major hospitals and surgical facilities throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and around the world. For more information, visit http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/ . DATASOURCE: Microtek Medical Holdings, Inc. CONTACT: Dan R. Lee, President and CEO, or Jerry Wilson, CFO, or John Mills, Investor Relations, , all of Microtek Medical, +1-800-476-5973 Web site: http://www.microtekmed.com/ http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/

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