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January 2010
Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement Training Module Now Available by Simbionix
January 19, 2010, Cleveland, OH USA: Simbionix, the world’s leading developer of medical simulation systems, introduces its new module for the ANGIO Mentor simulator, the Percutaneous Aortic Valve Replacement Module, which provides physicians with an opportunity to practice a revolutionary endovascular implantation of a bioprosthesis, without performing cardiac surgery.
Percutaneous aortic valve replacement is an innovative minimally invasive technique for heart valve implantation. This procedure, which takes place in a catheterization lab, is performed on a beating heart, so that there is no need for a cardiopulmonary bypass and its associated risks. In addition to having the potential to treat and heal many of the patients who are ineligible for traditional open-heart surgery, including elderly patients or patients suffering from additional conditions, this new technique is also less traumatic to the patient, and reduces healthcare costs and rehabilitation time.
The new training module provides surgeons with the opportunity to practice correct placement of the bioprosthesis during an Aortic Valve Replacement, which is critical for the success of the procedure. Surgeons can train on different virtual patients, and gain experience with complicated anatomies and various pathologies. At the end of the session the surgeon can assess and analyze the deployment process and learn how to work more safely with a bioprosthesis.
Mr. Gary Zamler, Simbionix CEO adds: "The medical device field is rapidly developing, with new technologies continuously being introduced to the market and new techniques being used every day. Based on the work of our exceptionally strong R&D team, we are able to assist clinicians in keeping up with these changes, while at the same time contributing to enhanced patient safety. Device manufactures share the same needs, and require advanced and efficient training tools. Simbionix solutions provide a wide scope of opportunities to attend to this positive trend in medical device developments, an example of which is demonstrated in this new application for percutaneous aortic valve replacement".
November 2009
Research on Simbionix PROcedure Rehearsal Software Awarded Magna Cum Laude Prize at CIRSE 2009
November 11, 2009, London, England: Extensive research conducted by the Imperial College of London, Ghent University Hospital and University of Sheffield on the Simbionix PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™, was awarded a Magna Cum Laude EPOS Award at the CIRSE 2009 congress in Lisbon, Portugal.
The PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™, introduced by Simbionix last year, is the world’s first patient specific system to enable clinicians to create practice scenarios based on their patient’s unique anatomy as reconstructed from CTA or MRA data.
Preliminary data from ongoing research by the European Virtual Reality Endovascular Research Team (EVEResT) suggests that patient-specific rehearsal may enhance the performance of interventionalists in subsequent endovascular procedures. The Preliminary data also suggested that after rehearsal, endovascular surgery is carried out more rapidly with less use of contrast and fluoroscopy and to a higher qualitative standard, compared to those interventions preceded by a generic warm-up case, or no warm-up at all.
Professor Nick Cheshire, Professor of Vascular Surgery at Imperial College remarks: "We are pleased to report on the strong correlation between the virtual and real operation with regards to the angiography images, endovascular access and material used during the intervention. The Rehearsal Studio was able to adequately predict the optimal material for the specific case at hand. Further research into the PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™ is expected to determine if this technology can indeed help to improve the technical skills of the interventionalist and tailor these skills to the challenges of a specific patient. The preliminary results already demonstrate shorter procedure time with less use of contrast; the end goal of the application of this technique will of course be to enhance patient safety and outcome.”
Mr. Ran Bronstein, President and COO at Simbionix adds: "We are very pleased with the results of the research work conducted on our newest system. The PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™ is an innovative product that utilizes a unique technology which was developed following intensive R&D efforts. Based on initial reactions, I believe it will change the way physicians practice and perform today."
October 2009
Simbionix Introduces the Next Generation in Bronchoscopy Training
October 27, 2009, Cleveland, OH, USA: Simbionix, the world’s leading developer of medical simulation systems, introduces it's new advanced simulator, the GI-BRONCH Mentor, a comprehensive solution for virtual reality training of GI Endoscopy and Flexible Bronchoscopy.
The new GI-BRONCH Mentor combines the virtual with the physical to create the ultimate training solution for flexible bronchoscopy. This simulator provides an optimal learning environment for motor, cognitive and coordinative skill acquisition. Complete clinical procedures of diagnostic, therapeutic and emergency nature are simulated in a highly reactive manner, exhibiting real life patient environment and behavior, where altering patient condition corresponds realistically to user actions.
The GI-BRONCH Mentor provides an extremely flexible setup to accommodate posterior or lateral working positions, oral or nasal scope introduction, American or European naming convention and team or individual training.
The BRONCH educational environment features advanced educational aids in order to optimize the learning curve, including:
- Anatomical compass and 3D bronchial map to enhance 3D perception
- Anatomy labels and atlas to promote anatomical knowledge
- Designated skill tasks to drive adoption of correct scope manipulation and safe and efficient tool utilization.
Gary Zamler, Simbionix CEO comments: "We are very excited to introduce our new GI-BRONCH Mentor simulator, which is yet another example of Simbionix's efforts and commitment to develop advanced tools to help educate and train doctors in various medical procedures. As with all of our products, the BRONCH training system is being developed in close collaboration with medical experts from around the world with the support of our partners and customers." Inbal Mazor, Simbionix VP of Global Marketing adds: " Simbionix responded to the global market demand for a more advanced Bronchoscopy simulator and developed this next generation simulator that offers extremely flexible working setups for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, in an all-inclusive, advanced patient environment."
Simbionix will present the new GI BRONCH Mentor at the upcoming CHEST 2009 exhibit on November 2-4, 2009, at the San Diego Convention Center in California, Booth #1322
Simbionix USA Corporation’s Innovative Development Division Releases Two New Breakthrough Technologies
Sep. 21st 2009, Cleveland, OH, USA: Simbionix USA Corporation, the world’s leading developer of medical simulation systems, just released two new products: a new Laparoscopic Essential Tasks Module for its LAP Mentor™ and a breakthrough technology for patient-specific simulation based on actual patient data - the PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™.
The new Laparoscopic Essential Tasks Module is an addition to the LAP Mentor's ever-expanding library of modules. This new module takes hands-on skill training another step forward, enabling the trainee to practice three essential tasks, similar to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Program (FLS) developed by SAGES.
"The module is a breakthrough technology that provides an efficient and exciting virtual reality environment", explains Simbionix President Ran Bronstein.
During the same week, Simbionix released a new, enhanced version of the PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™ marking another important advance in its innovative simulation technology.
This unique product, previously introduced by Simbionix last year, is the world’s first medical simulator to enable clinicians to create practice scenarios based on their patient’s unique anatomy as reconstructed from CT data.
Inbal Mazor, Simbionix Vice President of Corporate Marketing, adds:" This week's release of the PROcedure Rehearsal Studio with the PACS-enabled capability allows for a wide range of scans and enables the sharing of training cases for educational use. With this new version, the system is now more efficient, easier to use and extremely reliable. “We are extremely proud of this new product which will undoubtedly benefit both patient and clinicians”.
Simbionix will present these new releases at upcoming US medical tradeshows this fall: The PROcedure Rehearsal Studio on September 23rd at TCT 2009 in San Francisco, and the new Laparoscopic Essential Tasks on Oct 12th at the ACS 2009 annual meeting.
June 2009 Press Release
Simbionix Signs Agreement with the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery
20 June 2009, Prague Convention Center, Czech Republic.
Simbionix and the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of training materials and assessment tools for a new Laparoscopic Skills Curriculum.
Since its founding in 1990, the EAES has played a leading role in the promotion and dissemination of endoscopic surgery and allied interventional techniques throughout Europe. Its programs include research, training, and publication of original articles, reviews, consensus conferences and guidelines. In recent years, the EAES has acknowledged the necessity of developing a curriculum and objective assessment tools for standardizing training in laparoscopic surgery. To address this need, the EAES has developed a multi-year plan to build a European Laparoscopic Skills Curriculum (LSS), which will comprise both didactic and skills development components, including eLearning and simulation-based assessment elements.
According to the agreement signed last week, the sophisticated LAP Mentor™ simulator from Simbionix will become the exclusive assessment tool for the new curriculum. Simbionix is also providing its new learning management system, MentorLearn™, which will provide a universal access point to data from the simulator, didactic, and assessment components.
Ran Bronstein, president of Simbionix, expressed excitement about the agreement: “As a leading provider of medical simulators and online medical education, Simbionix understands the importance of providing access to standardized training. This collaboration, by leveraging the clinical knowledge and experience of the EAES and the innovative technologies of Simbionix, will set a new standard for laparoscopic skills training in Europe.”
Professor Fingerhut, the new president of the EAES, adds that this agreement is a landmark in the cooperation between industry and professional societies. Together, they can address the need for modern teaching and assessment tools particular to the visual transmission of surgical techniques used in laparoscopic and endoscopic interventions. This agreement also highlights the prominent role played by the EAES, as the leading European laparoscopic and endoscopic professional society, in the field of education. The development of a training curriculum that can be easily adopted by every country and professional organization in the European Community looks forward to the time when the LSS curriculum becomes the standard for teaching and evaluating interventional skills, not only throughout the ECC, but also in any other countries working with the EAES.
About the EAES
The European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) was founded in 1990 and since then has become a growing and dynamic organization that will continue to play a leading role in the future of Endoscopic Surgery and Allied Interventional Techniques.
May 2009 Press Release Simbionix USA and B-Line Medical Announce Multi-level Agreement About B-Line Medical (www.blinemedical.com) For more information visit www.blinemedical.com.
March 2009 Press Release Simbionix Increases Product Offerings for OB/GYN Physicians Simbionix and VirtaMed have joined forces to provide OB/GYN surgeons the most advanced training system for endoscopic surgery. The new VirtaMed HystSim™ simulator adds hysteroscopy to Simbionix’ impressive line of medical simulation and eLearning products. Simbionix already offers a wide spectrum of simulators for minimal invasive surgery. “This new agreement further expands our product offering,” says Simbionix CEO Gary Zamler. “The addition of the HystSim simulator, along with our recently launched laparoscopic surgery module for gynecology, shows how seriously Simbionix is investing in women’s healthcare issues". Simbionix’ President and founder, Mr. Ran Bronstein, adds: “our simulation technology is definitely a revolution in the world of medical training and assessment. We are happy to be working together with VirtaMed, a company as committed to technology and simulation quality as we are. Simbionix will keep increasing its product offering to the medical community and bring quality and service to its customers and partners”. "VirtaMed is thrilled to be working together with Simbionix, the market leader in surgical simulation," adds VirtaMed CEO Stefan Tuchschmid. "Simbionix is a partner that will ensure the HystSim simulator is available globally. We truly appreciate Simbionix' commitment to provide the best possible training for surgeons in every field.” VirtaMed HystSim™ will be officially launched at the next ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) annual clinical meeting held in Chicago on May 2nd. Further information and product demonstrations are available from your local Simbionix sales representative. About VirtaMedVirtaMed is a Swiss based company with an interdisciplinary background in medicine and engineering. The HystSimTM system is the first VirtaMed product and provides instructional teaching and training of diagnostic and therapeutic hysteroscopy. VirtaMed’s mission is to develop state-of-the-art training tools for endoscopic surgery of highest possible realism, all with the ultimate goal to improve the quality of patient care. Additional company information can be found at www.virtamed.com
February 2009 Press Release Simbionix Releases Two New Simulation Modules Jan. 9, 2009, Cleveland, OH USA: Simbionix, the world’s leading developer of medical simulation systems, has released two new endovascular training modules, Cerebral Intervention and Cardiac Rhythm Management. These new ANGIO Mentor modules demonstrate Simbionix's commitment to enriching the content of its training systems and maximizing their value for customers. The Cardiac Rhythm Management module enables virtual placement of pacemakers and defibrillators. Any change in the patient’s heart rate during the simulation sounds an alarm so trainees can learn to provide immediate treatment. For the first time, trainees have the ability to train on canulating the coronary sinus, placing a lead and perform electrical measurements in a virtual and safe environment. The Cerebral Intervention module features complete neurovasculature and a biplane x-ray system, making it the perfect platform for learning how to deliver intracranial coils and stents. Simbionix’s CEO, Gary Zamler, explains; “This module gives neuro-interventionists the opportunity to handle complications, such as a perforated aneurysm, in our unique simulation environment, rather than in the OR.” Mr. Zamler continues: "We at Simbionix are proud of these two new modules and their potential contribution to the quality of medical practice." January 2009 Press Release Glen C. Williams Joins eLearning Sales Team for Simbionix, Heading Up Chicago Office.
Vascular Surgeons Agree: Case Rehearsal Improves Outcomes Surgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center, NY indicated that patient-specific CTA data can be converted to an endovascular simulator (ANGIO Mentor™, Simbionix US) with high face validity. The surgeons “strongly agreed” that the simulation improved the operative flow, increased patient safety and efficiency of instrument use, decreased overall operative and fluoroscopy time and the amount of contrast used, and that the operative and simulator outcomes were similar. New Colorectal Module from Simbionix Advances Laparoscopic Cancer Treatment Simbionix USA Corp, an international company using leading edge simulation to advance clinical performance, announces the world-wide release of a breakthrough training simulation of the laparoscopic colorectal procedure. Although minimally invasive surgical (MIS) techniques provide many advantages over traditional open surgery, surgeons have been slow to adopt laparoscopic colon resection, because it is a very challenging procedure to learn without potentially putting patients at risk. Colorectal resection is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer, which accounts for almost 10% of all cancer deaths in the US annually. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) ranks colorectal cancer as the 4th most common type in the United States, with over 148,000 Americans diagnosed in 2008. This new, virtual reality simulation, properly used, will significantly assist surgeons in mastering and perfecting their skills, in performing this critical cancer procedure, without posing a risk to patients during the learning process. The Laparoscopic Colorectal Procedure simulation joins the suite of training simulations available on Simbionix’s critically acclaimed LAP Mentor™ which now offers training opportunities on seven different laparoscopic procedures and over 60 different patient scenarios. Our new laparoscopic colorectal module is definitely a revolution in the world of virtual reality medical simulation,” explains Simbionix President, Ran Bronstein. “We’ve created a virtual 3D environment featuring the complex anatomical structures a surgeon would encounter in a real laparoscopic colorectal resection. Combined with the unique simulation capabilities that I believe only Simbionix can provide, the virtual module allows unlimited procedural interaction and is a definite leap forward in medical simulation.” The Simbionix Laparoscopic Colorectal Procedure simulation received international praise at the September 2008, 11th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery and the Japanese Society of Endoscopic Surgery (JSES), and at the American College of Surgery (ACS) in San Francisco, CA in October. Professor Watanabe, head of the JSES, said: “It is very exciting to have a way of training how to perform and master this critical procedure. I am sure we will use it to train our surgeons.” Conor P. Delaney, Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Colorectal Surgery at Case Western Reserve University, is also excited about the new module. “The laparoscopic colorectal module will transform the way we teach laparoscopic colorectal surgery. I see this as an important part of training, where trainees learn the basic steps on a simple trainer, and then practice their first 20 cases on the Simbionix simulator. That way, by the time they need to perform in a clinical situation, they are already experienced with the procedure.”
William E. Lewandowski to Lead Simbionix US Marketing Team in Simbionix’s Strategic Expansion in the US Market Cleveland, OH and Lod, Israel, November 2008 – Simbionix USA Corporation (Simbionix), a developer of medical simulators and hands-on curriculum for training medical professionals, today announced that William E. Lewandowski will join the company as the US Marketing Director on November 10th, 2008. Gary Zamler, Simbionix CEO stated, “Over the past two consecutive years, Simbionix has enjoyed double digit revenue growth in both our International and Domestic markets. We are particularly pleased to have someone of Bill’s caliber join our expanding US organization to increase the momentum as we rollout new and exciting products such as ’PROcedure Rehearsal Studio’ the Simulation Industry’s first patient specific technology.” Bill brings to Simbionix a unique background with over 20 years of experience in the business of training and simulation in the aviation, defense and medical industries. For the last 3 years, Bill has been an independent consultant in the acquisition, development, use and validation of simulation and training devices to a wide range of clients in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Inbal Mazor, Simbionix Corporate VP Marketing stated, “Bill’s experience and knowledge will assist us to maintain our market leadership position within the medical education and simulation markets. We are pleased to have Bill join Simbionix and lead our US marketing efforts.” In addition to his consultant work, Bill has held key positions in the training and simulation industry. Bill held the position of Vice President for Simulation Systems, and later Business Development, for a producer of medical simulations. He oversaw the development of medical simulation products and established development contracts with leading medical device companies. At FlightSafety International (a major international producer of flight simulators and commercial aviation training), Bill managed a division that developed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified training products, which included instructor-led courseware, eLearning, and non-motion simulations. He was also instrumental in winning curriculum development contracts with major airplane manufacturers in Brazil, Canada, France, Israel, and the United States. Bill rounds out his business experience with solid academic credentials. He holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in Instructional and Performance Technology from Boise State University, Idaho, and he is currently pursuing a research Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Health Science at the University of Liverpool, UK. He has published and presented in professional medical society venues and has served on publication peer review committees for instructional design and medical societies. Bill is a member of the American Society for Training and Development, the International Society for Performance Improvement and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Simbionix Raises Largest Amount in Company’s History in Venture Capital to Accelerate Growth October 6, 2008 (Cleveland, OH and Tel Aviv, Israel) – Simbionix USA Corporation is pleased to announce the completion of a Series C round of growth capital financing led by River Cities Capital Funds, along with incumbent investor Early Stage Partners and other existing shareholders, as well as Western Reserve Partners who served as the company’s investment bankers. The investment will enable Simbionix to accelerate the already rapid growth of its medical simulation technology via the introduction of innovative new products and expanded distribution channels. “This significant funding will help us continue the company’s momentum and support Simbionix’s commitment to maintain its position as the global leader in medical simulation technology,” stated Dr. Avshalom Horan, Chairman. “We are excited about the market’s validation of our technology as well as the strong financial support of River Cities and the continuing support of our existing investors,” commented Gary Zamler Simbionix CEO. “This infusion of new growth capital will fuel further domestic and international growth of our existing products as well as our emerging products – that includes the recently launched PROcedure Rehearsal Studio, a truly revolutionary virtual reality endovascular simulator with unprecedented hands-on, “patient-specific training capabilities,” he added. “Simbionix works closely with global leaders in healthcare, both on the medical device side and the provider side. They take comfort with Simbionix as a partner because of our size, profitability, and the resources to bring innovative products to market,” Mr. Zamler concluded. Ran Bronstein, Simbionix President and one of its founders commented “funding of this sort is an important achievement for the Simbionix team. It’s an additional indication demonstrating the growth and the validity of the medical education and simulation market since River Cities has experience in both fields. We welcome River Cities’ involvement to boost our efforts to improve patient safety and medical outcomes through advanced simulation. “ “We have been very impressed with the Simbionix team and its best-of-breed technology in an attractive, emerging global marketplace – the combination of people and technology at Simbionix looks tough to beat,” stated Mr. Murray Wilson, Managing Director of River Cities. “The impressive rate of adoption of the new e-Learning initiatives makes us confident that the company can build on its already-demonstrated success with the simulation platform. About River Cities
Simbionix Launches Innovative Patient-Specific Simulation Sep 2008, Cleveland, OH, USA: Simbionix, the world’s leading developer of medical simulation systems, advances procedural simulation from theoretical promise to operating room reality. The PROcedure Rehearsal Studio™, Simbionix’ latest innovative medical simulation system, is the world’s first medical simulator that enables clinicians to create practice scenarios based on their patient’s unique pathology and anatomy. Gary Zamler, CEO of Simbionix, sees the launch of Procedure as “a quantum leap in the world of medical simulation that has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes while reducing health care costs. “Our leading technology has made Simbionix the industry leader in medical simulation. PROcedure Rehearsal Studio shows where that leadership will be taking everyone” Mr. Zamler also announced that Strong Medical Center in Rochester, NY, Imperial College, UK, and Sheba Hospital, Israel have already signed agreements with Simbionix to use PROcedure Rehearsal Studio in their simulation centers. “These leading hospitals will use and test PROcedure Rehearsal Studio in accordance with Simbionix’ philosophy and mission to collaborate with the medical community developing leading-edge technologies for training and education while promoting patient safety. Simbionix will unveil this next generation of medical simulation on October 12th at the Annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutic symposium (TCT) in Washington, DC. July 2008 Press Release Simbionix Releases Powerful New Learning Management System with enhanced True Assessment System™ July 2008, Cleveland, OH and Denver CO: Simbionix’ eLearning division, eTrinsic, announced the release of version 6.0 of their enhanced Learning Management System (LMS), incorporating the True Assessment System™ (TAS) for data reporting. The architecture has been refined for enhanced scalability, greater speed, and superior performance. Improvements to current features include enhanced rules-based self-registration, manager approval, event scheduling, unlimited group and manager levels, wait-list management, prerequisite management, updated certification management and accreditation reporting. The new Data Visualization Reports Suite allows administrators to visualize user data quickly so they can easily manage and understand user capabilities and knowledge. V6.0 also integrates Simbionix simulator data into reports. And by the end of 2008, complete integration of the LMS with the Simbionix Mentor line of virtual reality simulators will be available.Announcing the release of the new version 6.0 LMS, eTrinsic President Jacques Devaud commented: "We developed the LMS to offer corporations rapid deployment, customized data collection and detailed reporting capabilities not found in other platforms. Version 6.0 offers even more power and flexibility to users and managers, while setting the stage for the first ever integration of simulator and didactic performance data into one seamless product”. June 2008 Press Release Simbionix Takes Non-Invasive GYN Surgical Training In announcing the release of the new module, Simbionix President Ran Bronstein commented: "This demonstrates Simbionix continued commitment to our LAP customers. We are committed to continuous on going development that will keep the LAP Mentor the most advanced laparoscopic system on the market. Our goal is to assure customers unsurpassed value and maximum benefits from their purchase of Simbionix Simulators”.
2007 a “Record Year” for Successful Validation Studies of Simbionix Simulators December 2007, Cleveland, OH, USA: Ten new validation studies were published during 2007 on the Simbionix Mentor series of training simulators, bringing the total number of studies published to 65. “This year we have seen a considerable increase in interest from US and European institutes” said Gary Zamler, Simbionix’ CEO. “Some of the world's most highly respected academic medical institutions and teaching hospitals have completed studies measuring the efficacy of using Simbionix Mentor simulation products.” The studies published this year include two new studies on the GI Mentor, two on the URO/PERC platform, three on the LAP Mentor and three on the ANGIO Mentor. Some of the studies were carried out at multiple sites, something that typically increases the reliability of study results. The institutes which conducted studies include the University of Texas, Catharina Hospital of the Netherlands, the British Imperial College of London and the Graduate School of Medical Sciences in the Kyushu University of Fukuoka, the first study by a Japanese institute to date. The study carried out by experts at Catherina Hospital’s Department of Gastroenterology concluded that the GI Mentor II simulator offered a convincing, realistic representation of colonoscopy that can discriminate between different levels of colonoscopy expertise. As a result, the product was granted both construct validity and expert validity. The study carried out by Kyushu University of Fukuoka concluded that the LAP Mentor was able to differentiate between subjects with different laparoscopic experience. One of the key value points for medical institutions to use Simbionix products is the ability to offer clinicians and medical students the required hands-on surgical experience at zero patient risk. Validation studies are critical to prove the efficacy of the simulation experience, so that institutions can rely on simulators to advance clinician training and improve patient safety. Yael Friedman Ph.D., Simbionix Chief Scientist over Medical Projects noted “We are happy to see that all of the institutes which have validated our products continue to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantage of using our Mentor products for surgical training”. Full details of the validation tests carried out can be seen on Simbionix website:
November 2007 Press Release Gynecologists Get First Hands-on Experience with Simbionix GYN Surgeons had their first opportunity last week to experience the world's most advanced laparoscopic surgery simulator at the 36th AAGL Global Congress Nov 21, 2006, Cleveland, OH, USA: Simbionix unveiled the latest module of its highly successful LAP Mentor™ simulator line to members of the Global Congress of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. The LAP Mentor™ multidisciplinary laparoscopic simulator is the first and only simulation system to provide training in complete advanced procedures. The system enables training and practice in essential surgical and suturing skills on a single, integrated platform. During the AAGL congress, Simbionix presented its newest module that offers hands-on training experience on two fundamental GYN procedures: ectopic pregnancy and tubal sterilization. “FFSP is another first-of-its-kind technological coup for Simbionix" says Simbionix President, Ran Bronstein. ”Open surgery simulation has finally made the leap from science fiction to fact”. Simbionix Announces Collaborative Agreement with the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), and the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) Task Force After extensive review, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) task force has selected Simbionix to collaboratively develop a simulation-based endoscopic hands-on skills assessment system. One of the major challenges in training physicians to perform flexible endoscopy is the need for a standardized and efficient assessment tool to verify proficiency and identify deficiencies in a trainee’s skills. In response to this concern, SAGES formed a committee to design a Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) Program. To address the requirements of the program, both multimedia and simulation-based educational elements need to be included, followed by a high-stakes validated exam to assess both knowledge and hands-on proficiency. Simbionix’ sophisticated GI Mentor technology platform will be used to develop the hands-on endoscopic simulation component specified by the FES Program. The hands-on component will feature skills training on the basic tasks needed for flexible endoscopy. Gary Zamler, Simbionix’ CEO, noted that ”this is clearly evidence of Simbionix leading position in the medical education market; we see this as a landmark step in the maturing of the medical simulation market. Simbionix appreciates the involvement of SAGES, a leading professional association, to advance the field of medical education through simulation-based programs for its membership. Simbionix is committed to this exciting and innovative project".October 2007 Press Release WHEC-TV News 10 in Rochester, NY: Simbionix Launches Portable LAP Simulator at Surgeons Congress in New Orleans October 14, 2007, Cleveland, OH, USA,: Last week, Simbionix unveiled the newest member of its extraordinarily successful LAP Mentor simulator line to members of the American College of Surgeons in New Orleans, LA, the compact LAP Mentor Express™. The LAP Mentor Express runs the same robust, realistic software as the larger LAP Mentor II, offering integrated training on complete laparoscopic procedures, practice of basic skills and validated performance metrics, all in a sleek cost-efficient, and completely portable package. To support the continuing value of the platform, Simbionix will continue its rapid release of new, advanced procedural software for the LAP simulators to meet market demands. This “personal trainer” for laparoscopic surgery comes complete with a high-performance laptop and all necessary surgical tools, contained in a wheeled case for easy entry and use in clinics, small-scale courses, local meetings, etc. Dror Paz, Director of US Sales for Simbionix, reported that participants in the ACS Congress received the new system with great enthusiasm. "We expect that the LAP Mentor Express will open the door to more medical centers, training programs and clinicians that have been waiting to enjoy the benefits of a top-quality laparoscopy simulator with training modules that accommodate budgetary constraints. “ Q4 2006 PreOp Mentor Simulator another “Industry First” Success for Simbionix Dr. Giora Weisz, an Interventional Cardiologist from Cardiovascular Research Foundation and Columbia University Medical Center stated, “I believe patient-based simulation can significantly improve patient safety by training physicians on the patient's own anatomy and by practicing with the appropriate devices before the actual procedure, resulting in shorter procedure time, less unnecessary equipment, and ultimately, higher success rates and less complications." During the live broadcast, the Cath Lab team said they believe that as a result of the patient-based training, they used less contorts, less x-ray time and most importantly, were able to improve patient safety. Ran Bronstein, Simbionix President stated, "until now, simulation was limited to generalized models of patients, however, with the PreOp Mentor, planning and simulation are done beforehand based on the patient's individual anatomy.allowing for better preparation and leading to better results". In addition to the PreOp Mentor Simulator, scheduled for Commercial Release in 2007, Simbionix showcased their new advanced Coronary Module and the new ANGIO Mentor™Mini at TCT. The Coronary Module simulates coronary interventions such as, PTCA, stenting and left ventricular angiography. The new module uniquely features the simulation of a patient’s vital signs in response to actual simulated coronary complications while the ANGIO Mentor Mini is a portable simulator to be used as a "Personal Trainer" for smaller courses or for on-site training. September Press Release Success for Simbionix at the September European Conferences At CIRSE in Rome, Italy, Simbionix participated in the CIRSE Simulation Gallery, enabling participants to experience hands-on the Simbionix ANGIO Mentor. Physicians trained on the Renal, Carotid, SFA and Iliac Intervention Modules, enthusiastically practicing the complete range of peripheral vascular intervention techniques. During the same week, at the EAES in Berlin, Germany, Simbionix premiered the new Ventral Hernia Repair module on the LAP Mentor. Two validation studies on the GI Mentor and the URO mentor were presented as posters and won Best Poster Awards from amongst 500 posters. August Press Release Simbionix Announces Immediate Availability of its Newest Module for Training Laparoscopic Hernia Procedures Industry's first module that uses simulation for the teaching and practice of laparoscopic hernia treatment procedures August 15, 2006, Cleveland, OH, USA, and Lod, Israel; Simbionix announces the availability of a new add-on module for the teaching and practice of laparoscopic hernia procedures. First of its kind in the industry, the LAP Hernia module is the latest addition to the suite of laparoscopic procedures developed for the LAP Mentor. The Hernia module features real-life clinical treatment scenarios and skills assessment tools for the teaching and practice of laparoscopic hernia procedures. The Simbionix LAP Mentor, with its intuitive user interface, represents the industry's most advanced training content, 3-D real-life graphics and ergonomically designed hardware The LAP Hernia module is targeted for the training of surgeons, who, in a series of real-life case studies, will be able to practice laparoscopic incisional hernia treatment procedures, including adhesiolysis and handling and fixating mesh,. The Hernia add-on module joins the growing library of software modules for the Simbionix LAP Mentor simulation product, including Essential LAP Skills, Suturing and Lap Chole modules. "The new module for training LAP ventral hernia procedures reduces the need to train on animals, and then patients later on. Using simulation to learn and practice the various clinical scenarios positively impacts patient safety", stated Jan F. Kukleta, MD, from the Laparoscopic Training Center in Zurich, Switzerland. The LAP Hernia module will be launched in Europe at the EAES in Berlin, Germany on September 13-16 and at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Chicago, Ill, October 8-12 (booth # 239). Simbionix is committed to continuously innovating and growing its product offering. The wide range of training modules, case studies and scenarios is developed in response to the growing importance of clinical training and education for the improvement of patient care. As a world leader in the field of simulation-based medical education and training, Simbionix continues to provide professional training solutions in a timely and efficient manner. June Press Release Online Remote Support, June 2006 Cleveland, OH and Lod, Israel, June 2006 – Simbionix USA Corporation (Simbionix), a developer of medical simulators and hands-on curriculum for training medical professionals, announced that Boaz Tal has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Boaz will work in the Lod, Israel office managing global financial operations, including the Cleveland, Ohio and Denver, Colorado locations. eTrinsic, a division of Simbionix USA, relocates to a new and exciting facility in Denver, Colorado Cleveland, OH and Denver, CO, June 2006 – eTrinsic, a division of Simbionix USA, a leading developer of online education and training products serving the medical device industry and medical education sectors, has relocated their offices from Louisville, Colorado to the historical LoDo district of Denver, Colorado April Press Release Cleveland, OH and Lod, Israel, February 2006 – Simbionix USA Corporation (Simbionix), a developer of medical simulators and hands-on curriculum for training medical professionals, today announced that Gary Zamler will join the company as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on April 10th, 2006. January Press Release CLEVELAND, Ohio and Louisville, CO (January 12, 2006) – Simbionix USA Corporation, a leading developer of advanced medical simulation products, today acquired all assets and employees of eTrinsic, Inc, a developer of interactive medical education and assessment tools. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Only a year after its introduction, the Simbionix ANGIO mentor provides physicians all over the world with safe endovascular interventions expert training. During the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) symposium, which was held in Chicago IL, on June 16, Simbionix, together with Cordis Endovascular, organized hands-on carotid educational sessions on its ANGIO Mentor™ systems. June Press Release Simbionix Founders Announce Their Successors As part of their original, long-term plan, David Barkay, founder and currently President and CEO and Edna Chosack, founder and currently Vice President of Strategic marketing are leaving the company to pursue new entrepreneurial challenges. Assuming the Simbionix presidency will be company Co-founder Ran Bronstein. Simbionix continues to innovate During April, Simbionix has presented its new developments both for the ANGIO Mentor and the LAP Mentor simulators. Largest installation of Simbionix' LAP Mentor simulators worldwide, February 2005 The European Surgical Institute (ESI), one of the most modern and innovative training centers for further medical education in Europe, based in Hamburg, Germany, has installed 18 Simbionix LAP Mentor simulators. The ESI has taken an innovative step by incorporating a large number of advanced training systems into its course curriculum focusing on minimally invasive operating techniques. As a result, a large number of course participants will have access to practice on the most advanced virtual reality training systems. The ESI will be using Simbionix's Remote Mentor system to manage and track course participants' progress on all 18 systems. 
January Press Release Two industry leaders join forces to provide the ultimate surgical training solution through enhanced simulation and educational assessment technologies to medical device companies and professional associations. |
Simbionix enhances medical training by providing surgeons with advanced clinical-simulation technology. At the University of Michigan Medical School, 21st century educational technology has caught up with 21st century medicine, with the development of the Clinical Simulation Center. “We’re working to enhance patient safety and the quality of patient care. Demo of the Simbionix ANGIO Mentor™ at the Medical Innovation Summit In Cleveland, October 18-20 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation hosted their second annual Medical Innovation Summit from October 18 through October 20 at the Clinic's main campus in Cleveland . Simbionix was one of forty other Medical; Pharmaceutical, Devise and associated industries in the exhibit area. The attendees included executives from the world's best known names in Medicine, Physicians and Entrepreneurs. The theme for the meeting "New Technologies, New Therapies, New Economics" covered topics of interest to the more than 700 attendees. Simbionix state-of-the-art surgical simulation and training systems were enthusiastically received at several major professional conferences. Simbionix continues to innovate, and has launched new systems and modules designed for physician training. Washington DC - October, 2004 – During the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) symposium, which was held in Washington DC on September 27- October 1, Simbionix, together with Cordis Endovascular organized hands-on carotid educational sessions on its ANGIO Mentor™ systems as part of a TCT learning center . The simulators were available at both the TCT learning center and the Cordis booth. Simbionix also took the opportunity to present a prototype of its new Renal Angioplasty module at the Cordis booth. The new Renal Angioplasty module received warm praise from participants, who were particularly impressed with the realistic simulation of the fluoroscopic images and the renal angioplastic intervention it provides. New Orleans - LA October, 2004 – Simbionix presented its
Anaheim,
Ca., - June 3, 2004 - Simbionix has successfully launched
its new ANGIO Mentor™ simulator
system at the annual meeting of the Society for Vascular Surgery
(SVS), which was held in Anaheim, Ca. The new simulator for interventional endovascular procedures has also received warm praise from doctors, who had the opportunity to experience the simulator capabilities in a workshop organized by the SVS before the opening of the annual meeting.
Simbionix signs a new distribution agreement with Adachi Medical Instruments Co. in Japan Osaka , Japan . - June, 2004 - Simbionix has recently signed an agreement in Osaka , Japan, with Adachi Medical Instruments Co., for the distribution of the company's LAP Mentor™ systems in Japan . The new distribution agreement forms an important strategic step in Simbionix's global distribution plan.
Dr.
Wallace of Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL Michael Wallace, MD, Associate Professor at the Mayo Medical School and Director of Endoscopic Research at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida offered high praises to the advancement of the GI Mentor in an e-mail to Tim Rocco, Vice President of Sales and Business Development. Dr. Wallace was impressed by the realistic quality of the images and great dimension the 3D model adds. The right adrenal gland, even with years of experience, is difficult to find. Dr. Wallace reported: "after one session on the simulator, using the 3D model to "guide" me to the right adrenal, I was able to find it. On the next EUS case an hour later, I reproduced the maneuver and found my first right adrenal gland!".
The LAP Mentor™ has been recognized by the SLS as an Honorable Mention for the year of 2003 The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons will
recognize the Simbionix
Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Acquires MENTOR Product Line Adding to their state-of-the-art training center, Harvard Medical
School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has acquired the |
