[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1537-E1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2009

  Mr. SOUDER. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the House Republican standards 
on earmarks, I am submitting the following information regarding 
earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2647, The National Defense 
Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2010.
  Requesting Member: Congressman Mark Souder 
  Bill Number: H.R. 2647
  Account: RDA, 0603807A (PE Number), 70 (Line Number)
  Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Zimmer Inc.
  Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 708, Warsaw, IN 46581
  Description of Request: Zimmer has concepts for a pneumatic ``nail'' 
gun that would fire resorbable darts in rapid succession for the 
purpose of temporarily holding together the fragments of complex 
fractures prior to using standard plates and screws for long-

[[Page E1538]]

term fixation. This type of rapid fixation would simplify and speed the 
time of surgery by eliminating the cumbersome need for metallic pins 
and clamps. A civilian version of this gun would use darts are intended 
to function for minutes and then resorb over months. A military version 
could be designed that provided fixation for days allowing for the safe 
transfer of these patients from near-battlefield medical units to base 
hospitals for more extensive care. Many of these fractures are 
difficult to brace, splint or cast. Closed reduction and maintenance 
may be possible; further reducing the risk of infection. There is 
currently no other product on the market that addresses these specific 
unmet needs. Zimmer estimates that resourcing for a project of this 
magnitude will require in excess of six professional/technical FTE's 
(full-time equivalent employees) each year for a period of extending 
through and potentially beyond FY 2011. Although the precise number 
can't be calculated at this point, a substantial number of production 
and process workers (at the Warsaw facility) will be required to 
commercialize this product.

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