Contact: Alyssa Zeff
BD Public Relations
(201) 847-4358
Email: alyssa_zeff@bd.com

Waltham, MA -- Saturday, September 08, 2007 -- 

BD Medical - Ophthalmic Systems, a unit of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today the launch of its new BD Atomic Edgeâ?¢ Safety Knives, expanding its highly successful ophthalmic safety knife line.

BD Atomic Edge^TM technology represents a breakthrough in blade development that uses single crystal silicon to deliver edge sharpness and performance approaching that of a diamond blade. Developed through the technology and processes used in the fabrication of semiconductors, BD Atomic Edgeâ?¢ silicon blades deliver improved sharpness over comparably priced metal blades.

â??Silicon and diamond have the same diamond cubic crystalline structure,â?? said Doug Lawrence, Vice President and General Manager, BD Medical - Ophthalmic Systems. â??Using semiconductor manufacturing technology, BD offers an alternative to a diamond blade at the price of a single-use blade.â??

BD is committed to reducing the risk of sharps injuries associated with ophthalmic surgery. All BD ophthalmic safety knives feature an advanced retractable safety shield designed to protect healthcare professionals. BD Atomic Edge^TM Safety Knives incorporate a system of enhanced safety features, while maintaining ease of use. The silicon slit blades are mounted into a BD ophthalmic safety handle, a specially designed handle with a retractable shield.

According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), most sharps injuries result from unsafe devices rather than carelessness by healthcare workers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that more than 88 percent of sharps injuries in the hospital setting could be prevented by using safer medical devices.

â??In this era of concerns about blood borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease reducing the risk of accidental injury or contamination with patient blood is of great interest to all healthcare workers,â?? states Dr. Randall Olson of the Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah. â??Shielded safety knives can go a long way to protecting healthcare professionals during surgery.â??

About BD

BD, a leading global medical technology company that manufactures and sells medical devices, instrument systems and reagents, is dedicated to improving peopleâ??s health throughout the world.BD is focused on improving drug therapy, enhancing the quality and speed of diagnosing infectious diseases, and advancing research and discovery of new drugs and vaccines. The Companyâ??s capabilities are instrumental in combating many of the worldâ??s most pressing diseases. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, BD employs approximately 27,000 people in approximately 50 countries throughout the world. The Company serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. For more information, please visit www.bd.com.