Surgical Science Extends Patient-Specific 3D Modeling and Printing Service to Aid Cardiology Procedures

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  • New pliable MultiJet Printing material mimics patient physiology, enabling realistic practice of cuts, sutures and grafts
  • Full-color models assist with pre-surgical planning and medical education

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, November 10, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today the extension of the company’s anatomical modeling service to include a pliable MultiJet Printing (MJP) material for its patient-specific 3D modeling and printing service. As part of Surgical Science’ advanced end-to-end medical 3D printing solutions, this 3D modeling and printing service is designed to aid the planning of procedures for patients with critical congenital heart defects (CHD) requiring surgical intervention. CHDs are the most common birth defect, affecting approximately 12 of every 1000 live births (1).

Surgical Science’ cardiac 3D modeling and printing service uses radiographic imaging data to create an accurate digital representation of the patient’s heart, which is then 3D printed using either ColorJet Printing (CJP) or MultiJet Printing (MJP).  Each of these technologies offers a deeper understanding of a different aspect of the patient’s anatomy. The full-color CJP models color-code the patient’s heart structures to assist communication during physician consultations, and the new MJP models enable pre-surgical planning and surgical rehearsal using a pliable material that mimics the patient’s anatomy and can be cut, sutured and grafted. Surgical Science’ MJP technology allows the entire heart to be 3D printed in one piece while maintaining an accurate representation of internal organ structures.

A video showcasing Surgical Science CJP and MJP heart models is available here.

“We have been collaborating with Surgical Science on the design and printing of cardiac 3D models for a few years now,” said Shafkat Anwar, MD, Cardiology Director, Cardiac MRI Program, The Heart Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine. “Our cardiothoracic surgeons routinely use 3D printed models for precise pre-surgical planning, and have found these models helpful for complex cases. The models are also regularly used in our institution for trainee education and for counseling patients and their families. More recently, we have incorporated flexible 3D printed models into our pre-surgical ‘dataset’ and use both the flexible and rigid multicolor models for surgical planning. We have been consistently impressed by the high level of technical expertise of Surgical Science’ team, and the surgical models have proven accurate to the anatomy encountered in the operating room.”

Surgical Science’ cardiac 3D modeling and printing service is part of the company’s extensive cardiovascular offerings. Surgical Science’ complete line of cardiovascular products will be on display in booth #1752 at the American Heart Association Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA, November 13 – 15.

For more information on Surgical Science’ healthcare applications and offerings, contact info@surgicalscience.com.

Reference:

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3721933/

 

About Surgical Science

Surgical Science provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. Surgical Science’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, Surgical Science has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

 

Surgical Science Introduces Jaw in a Day® Single Surgery Dental Rehabilitation

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  • Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP®) enables full jaw reconstruction in a single surgery, sparing patients from months of treatment

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, September 20, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today the launch of Jaw in a Day®, the latest addition to its VSP® (Virtual Surgical Planning) Reconstruction product line. Enabled by Surgical Science’ healthcare expertise and proprietary digital-to-physical workflow, this patient-specific process enables surgeons to perform a full jaw reconstruction in a single surgery. This groundbreaking capability could spare patients from months of costly, painful and disruptive medical treatment.09

Traditional dental rehabilitation requires multiple surgeries and persistent care over a 6-12 month period. This pattern of procedures often results in patients missing teeth, which introduces a variety of adverse aesthetic, functional, and psychological effects to the patient. This can in turn interfere with patients’ working and social lives throughout the course of treatment.

Jaw in a Day is a single surgery jaw and dental reconstruction enabled via Surgical Science’ VSP Reconstruction service. Surgeons work with Surgical Science engineers who utilize state-of the-art digital CAD/CAM technology to create a personalized surgical plan and design patient-specific surgical guides, models and instruments. These devices are then 3D printed and sterilized for reference and use during the unique procedure. Immediate placement of a provisional dental prosthesis eliminates the need for multiple surgeries, resulting in a complete dental reconstruction months before traditional treatment options.

Jaw in a Day offers treatment at a lower cost, with a quicker recovery period. Because patients are able to limit operating time to a single procedure, Jaw in a Day also reduces the chance of infection and complications that may inherently be more likely with the multiple surgeries of traditional treatment plans. According to David L. Hirsch, DDS, MD, Director of Oral Oncology & Reconstruction, Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health, and Co-Developer of Jaw in a Day, “This single-stage reconstruction technique has streamlined the treatment of my patients. It avoids multiple procedures, shaving months off the time required for full dental rehabilitation.”

Watch Dr. Hirsch explain how Jaw in a Day is transforming jaw reconstruction.

Surgical Science will showcase Jaw in a Day at booth #706 at the AAOMS (American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons) 98th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Las Vegas, NV, September 21 – 23.

More information on Jaw in a Day is available here.

About Surgical Science

Surgical Science provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. Surgical Science’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, Surgical Science has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

Jaw in a Day® is a registered trademark of David L. Hirsch, DDS, MD.

Surgical Science Releases First Ever Virtual Reality Training for TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair

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  • First and only available TAPP procedural training module now offered on Surgical Science’ LAP Mentor™ and the RobotiX Mentor™ simulators

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, June 13, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today the release of the first and only available virtual reality training module for Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Inguinal Hernia Repair. Available on Surgical Science’ LAP Mentor laparoscopic surgical simulator as well as the company’s RobotiX Mentor simulator for robotic procedures, this new module serves a distinct need within the healthcare community for improved medical training and better patient outcomes.

A video preview of the TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair module is available here.

According to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), approximately 600,000 inguinal hernia repair operations are performed annually in the United States (1). Although this common procedure can be conducted using Minimally Invasive (MIS) procedures that are less painful, leave less scarring, and shorten recovery time among other benefits, traditional open surgeries are frequently performed instead. Despite the empirical value of the MIS Laparoscopic Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) technique, adoption has been slow due to a steep learning curve and challenges in structured training. For years, the only available hands-on approach for this method has been training boxes and cadavers. Surgical Science’ new TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair training module provides an additional comprehensive training solution that is interactive and repeatable.

Designed to shorten learning curves through realistic, hands-on virtual training, Surgical Science’ virtual reality TAPP Inguinal Hernia Repair training module provides a true-to-life anatomical environment for the safe and repeated practice of the skills and procedures required for this operation. Module tasks include didactic features such as interactive guidance, and cover the procedure from the identification of anatomical landmarks and key structures to peritoneum incision and the dissection and management of the hernia sac. Alongside these technical skills, the module offers practice with surgical decision making and provides objective performance measurement. Additional steps of the procedure, including mesh handling and peritoneal closure, are under development.

“Our extensive and growing offering of physical and virtual 3D healthcare solutions provides the skills and means for medical professionals to overcome today’s challenges and advance the future of care,” said Kevin McAlea, Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare, Surgical Science. “Each of our targeted products responds to a need within the healthcare community and is the result of our close work and collaboration with medical experts. From educational training modules and simulation to patient specific pre-operative surgical planning to 3D printed tools and implants, we are dedicated to advancing 3D technology’s role in healthcare to improve the experiences and outcomes of practitioners, students and patients.”

Surgical Science’ end-to-end healthcare solutions will be available for hands-on demonstrations at the upcoming European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES), Booth #76, June 15-17, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and at the Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM), Booth #EX30, June 15-17, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Reference:

(1) http://www.sages.org/publications/patient-information/patient-information-for-laparoscopic-inguinal-hernia-repair-from-sages/.

About Surgical Science

Surgical Science provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. Surgical Science’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, Surgical Science has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

Surgical Science Healthcare Products Now Available through ECAT Contract with Defense Logistics Agency

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  • ECAT contract pricing for healthcare products and services for the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps through February 2021

Date: April 25, 2016

Surgical Science has won a competitive ECAT (Electronic Catalog) contract from the Defense Logistics Agency to deliver medical simulation products and accessories to U.S. military service branches.

ECAT is an online ordering, distribution and payment system providing Department of Defense and other federal customers access to multiple manufacturer and distributor commercial catalogs at discounted prices. ECAT customers can browse, compare and order pharmaceutical, laboratory, dental, optical fabrication, and commercial medical and surgical equipment items, including medical simulators and training equipment.

The Surgical Science Healthcare ECAT contract currently includes 129 catalog items including virtual reality training simulators, software modules, and 3D printed models for procedure planning and rehearsal.

 

Media contact:

Susan Vetrone, Director of Marketing, Healthcare

Phone:216-650-2362

Email: susan.vetrone@surgicalscience.com

 

About Surgical Science

Surgical Science provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. Surgical Science’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, Surgical Science has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

Surgical Science Develops Standardized Curriculum for Bronchoscopy in Collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians

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  • New module combines cognitive knowledge and skill-based training to augment clinical experience
  • Hands-on interactivity helps develop practitioner dexterity

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, April 12, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today an ongoing collaboration with the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) to develop a standardized curriculum for Bronchoscopy on the Simbionix BRONCH Mentor™ virtual reality training simulator.

The CHEST Standardized Curriculum Module for Essential Bronchoscopic Skills and Diagnostic Bronchoscopy is designed to provide an opportunity to learn and demonstrate basic skills, as well as clinical knowledge and informed decision-making. This new standardized training module combines the expertise of CHEST and Surgical Science, leaders in their respective fields, to provide the most relevant training and assessment within a realistic mode of practice.

“We are pleased to partner with Surgical Science to deliver a standardized interventional pulmonology curriculum, allowing individual programs to offer training that’s been validated through CHEST’s hands-on simulation programs,” said Nicole Augustyn, Senior Vice President of Education, CHEST. “This partnership is a strong example of CHEST’s commitment to providing essential education and resources at critical times for the chest medicine community.”

Surgical Science experts have worked closely with CHEST course directors to combine theoretical material and clinical decision-making quizzes with hands-on simulation practice. The training modules include video tutorials and tasks that focus on bronchoscopic core competencies, followed by clinical segments in which cognitive and psychomotor skills are challenged and assessed as one entity for the first time. The curriculum covers the complete clinical workflow for patient evaluation based on the Practical Approach that includes initial evaluation, procedural strategies, techniques and results, and long-term management.

Surgical Science and Beidestar Technology Development, Ltd., the company’s distributor in China, will feature the Standardized CHEST Curriculum on the BRONCH Mentor at the upcoming 2016 CHEST World Conference in Shanghai, April 15-17, in booth 8.

About Surgical Science

Surgical Science provides comprehensive 3D products and services, including 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the factory floor to the operating room. Surgical Science’ precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, Surgical Science has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring innovative products to market and drive new business models.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com

 American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST), publisher of the CHEST Journal, is the global leader in advancing best patient outcomes through innovative chest medicine education, clinical research, and team-based care. Its mission is to champion the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chest diseases through education, communication, and research. It serves as an essential connection to clinical knowledge and resources for its 19,000 members from around the world who provide patient care in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. For information about CHEST, visit chestnet.org.

Printing Innovator and Leader, Vyomesh Joshi Takes Helm as Surgical Science’ Chief Executive Officer

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ROCK HILL, South Carolina, April 4, 2016 – Surgical Science Corporation (NYSE:DDD) today announced management team changes to accelerate the company’s growth strategy.

Effective immediately, the Surgical Science board appointed Vyomesh Joshi (VJ) as President and CEO. VJ is a visionary who forever changed Hewlett-Packard’s printing business from the ground up. As a seasoned and known leader, VJ is committed to leveraging the strength and heritage of Surgical Science and transforming its business to help participate in the revolutionary changes taking place in nearly every corner of every industry.

Mr. Joshi succeeds Interim-President and CEO Andy Johnson, who will continue in his role as Surgical Science’ Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.

VJ is known for being a transformational and highly engaged leader with significant experience in developing and managing a broad product portfolio, all while driving operational excellence. While leading HP’s $26 billion printing business, VJ was responsible for doubling the printing business operating profits during an 11-year period.

“I am incredibly excited about the future of Surgical Science. We have a tremendous opportunity to help customers take advantage of the era of manufacturing transformation, including mass customization,” said VJ, President and CEO. “While the company has a strong history in place, it is clear that we need to develop new and innovative products with unprecedented quality and service levels to drive sustainable growth and profits.”

“We are pleased to announce VJ’s appointment as President and CEO of Surgical Science,” said Wally Loewenbaum, Chairman of the Surgical Science Board of Directors. “VJ’s significant experience scaling and strengthening technology-driven businesses, his expertise in product development and innovation, and his proven track record of operational excellence make him the ideal candidate to lead our company into its next era.”

Lastly, “On behalf of the entire board, I want to thank Andy for his dedication and leadership as Interim-President and CEO,” continued Loewenbaum.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to statements that explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, readers are urged to consider statements in the conditional or future tenses or that include terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” to be uncertain and forward-looking. Forward-looking statements may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements,” “Cautionary Statements and Risk Factors,” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Surgical Science undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized, except as may be required by law.

Surgical Science Announces Grand Opening of State-of-the-Art Healthcare Technology Center

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  • Dedicated facility to serve as global headquarters for company’s healthcare operations
  • Precision healthcare and medical 3D printing solutions include surgical simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) and 3D printing for anatomical models, medical devices and surgical instruments

LITTLETON, Colorado, March 10, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today the grand opening of its Healthcare Technology Center in Littleton, CO. The new facility will serve as the central hub for the company’s global healthcare activities, and support its full and comprehensive portfolio of precision healthcare and medical 3D printing solutions. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the new 70,000 square foot facility took place on March 10.
In keeping with the company’s collaborative legacy in healthcare, Surgical Science’ Healthcare Technology Center will work closely with medical practitioners and manufacturers in the field of precision healthcare with the goal of delivering optimized workflows and improved patient outcomes. The new facility will play an integral role in the provision and advancement of 3D healthcare solutions, including 3D printed medical devices and implants, Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP®), and immersive surgical simulation.

Surgical Science celebrated the Grand Opening of its Healthcare Technology Center on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

In keeping with the company’s collaborative legacy in healthcare, Surgical Science’ Healthcare Technology Center will work closely with medical practitioners and manufacturers in the field of precision healthcare with the goal of delivering optimized workflows and improved patient outcomes. The new facility will play an integral role in the provision and advancement of 3D healthcare solutions, including 3D printed medical devices and implants, Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP®), and immersive surgical simulation.

Surgical Science’ Healthcare Technology Center will feature manufacturing floors powered by 3D printing to produce known medical solutions and pioneer new ones. These 3D printing manufacturing floors will house a complete range of Surgical Science’ technology, including Direct Metal Printing (DMP), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), ColorJet Printing (CJP) and MultiJet Printing (MJP).
As one of Surgical Science’ global centers of excellence in healthcare, the Littleton facility is ISO 13485 certified for healthcare solutions, and operates in accordance with the FDA and MDD regulations for applicable medical devices, ranging from low risk models (Class I) to instruments and implants (Class II) to highest risk devices (Class III).

Surgical Science’ Healthcare Technology Center will play an integral role in the provision and advancement of 3D healthcare solutions, including 3D printed medical devices and implants, Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP), and immersive surgical simulation.

The facility also features a simulation experience center in which visitors can demo the company’s Simbionix line of training simulators first-hand. Surgical Science’ training simulators provide surgeons and surgical assistants the opportunity to obtain skills and practice full procedures in an extensive range of medical specialties. Supported by the full range of Surgical Science’ 3D printing technologies, the experience center showcases how 3D printed models can be combined with simulators to allow better understanding of human anatomy, to provide a solid platform for device bench testing, and to enable repetitive practice on patient-specific anatomy without putting the patient at risk.
“Our new Healthcare Technology Center answers the growing need of the medical community for innovative and adaptive tools designed to provide better insights, better processes and better outcomes,” said Kevin McAlea, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare, Surgical Science. “Our extensive and growing offering of precision healthcare and medical 3D printing solutions provide the means and skills for medical and dental professionals to overcome today’s challenges and advance the future of care.”
Among the guests in attendance at the center’s ribbon cutting ceremony was Blessing Makwera, who underwent a successful series of intensive surgeries in 2013 that were made possible through advancements in Virtual Surgical Planning and 3D printing. “Today is an important day in medicine,” Makwera said. “My story illustrates how life changing this technology can be, and I am overjoyed to think of the many lives that will be impacted and improved by the capabilities made possible here.”
Watch Blessing’s story and learn more about the technologies involved in his case here.

Executives from Surgical Science were joined by Blessing Makwera and experts in the field of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) at the ribbon cutting ceremony. From L to R: David Hirsch, MD, DDS, New York Head and Neck Institute, Lenox Hill Hospital; Evan Garfein, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center; Andy Johnson, Interim-President and CEO & Chief Legal Officer; Chuck Hull, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer; Blessing Makwera; Kevin McAlea, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare; Oren Tepper, MD, Director of Craniofacial Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center; and Cathy Lewis, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer.

Dr. Oren Tepper, Director of Craniofacial Surgery at the Montefiore Medical Center, was also present for the grand opening. Dr. Tepper frequently relies on precision healthcare tools and medical 3D printing solutions to address the specific needs of his patients, and is a pioneer in developing innovative new uses for the technology. “Awareness and access have been the biggest hurdles to adopting 3D technology in healthcare,” Dr. Tepper said. “This facility will be a tremendous asset to the healthcare community in developing and proving precise methodologies for some of medicine’s most trying cases.”
Surgical Science’ Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Chuck Hull, also attended the opening, alongside regional and state officials, prominent figures in the academic and medical fields and additive manufacturing experts. “From the first printed part, I knew 3D printing had the potential to impact lives,” Hull said, “but I never imagined the revolutionary ways in which this technology would enhance healthcare and improve the quality of life for so many.”
To learn more about Surgical Science’ precision healthcare and medical 3D printing solutions, click here.

Surgical Science to Showcase Over 50 New Medical Software Modules at IMSH 2016

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  • Hands-on in-booth experiences featuring latest virtual medical training modules
  • Comprehensive display of 3D printed anatomical models, surgical guides and medical implants with live 3D printing demonstrations

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, January 14, 2016 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) announced today that it will display its full range of healthcare solutions at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) 2016 in San Diego, CA, January 16-20, booth 415. Featured products will include 3D printers, printed anatomical models and the company’s comprehensive suite of training simulators.

Surgical Science’ advanced training simulators provide medical professionals the opportunity to obtain skills and practice full procedures in the widest range of medical specialties. The newest product developments, which will be available for hands-on experience at IMSH 2016, include:

  • Team training modules for Robotic Prostatectomy, combining the RobitiX Mentor™ and LAP Mentor™ Express, and Hysterectomy, combining the LAP Mentor and the LAP Mentor Express. In these simulation combinations, the surgeon and surgical assistant actively affect and interact with the simulated environment just as they would in real-life patient procedures.
  • Comprehensive ultrasound modules, including trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) evaluation with advanced diagnostic tools and automatic measurements.
  • Female ultrasound modules, including transabdominal and transvaginal scanning on pregnant and non-pregnant women, with both routine and emergency procedures. Pregnancy ultrasound simulations include scans for normal fetuses, as well as a variety of fetal anomalies. Click here to see a video of the OB First Trimester training module.
  • Gastroenterology tools, including the GI-BRONCH Mentor™ GI Endoscopy – Fundamental Skills module (EFS), designed to provide trainees with knowledge and technical competence in GI Flexible Endoscopy essentials as prescribed by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
  • ANGIO Mentor modules for cardiovascular training with new real-time radiation monitoring based on factors such as C-arm projection, fluoroscopy time, magnification and more.
  • Cardiothoracic training with the VATS Lobectomy module on the LAP Mentor™, enabling the practice of complicated procedure steps with a guided case for beginners and free-hand case for experienced practitioners.
  • BRONCH Express portable desktop simulator for bronchoscopy training and qualification, co-developed with the American College of Chest Physicians to answer the need for affordable hands-on training for Endobronchial Ultrasound – Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).

Surgical Science’ healthcare offerings are designed to enhance quality of healthcare and quality of life through the use of 3D technologies. The company’s portfolio of solutions range from Virtual Surgical Planning® (VSP) and simulation to 3D printed models, instruments and implants for patient-specific care.

“The role of 3D technology in healthcare is expanding at a tremendous rate to meet the existing needs of practitioners, students, and patients, as well as to test new frontiers in training and treatment,” said Kevin McAlea, Chief Operating Officer, Healthcare, Surgical Science. “Our extensive and growing offering of physical and virtual 3D healthcare solutions provides the means and skills for medical professionals to help overcome today’s challenges and advance the future of care.” 

Surgical Science Collaborates with Industry Leaders to Provide Hands-on Training for Robotic Gynecologic Surgery

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  • Simulation-based hysterectomy procedure training with Intuitive Surgical‘s da Vinci Xi
  • Task-based hysterectomy module developed in collaboration with the Fundamentals of Robotic Gynecologic Surgery (FRGS) group
  • Surgical Science to exhibit at the upcoming American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists (AAGL) Global Congress

ROCK HILL, South Carolina, November 13, 2015 – Surgical Science (NYSE:DDD) today announced two healthcare collaborations, one with Intuitive® Surgical and one with Fundamentals of Robotic Gynecologic Surgery (FRGS) group, to develop unique training modules for the minimally invasive (MIS) robotic hysterectomy procedure.

Robotic surgery has developed rapidly since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999, as documented by the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons’ Committee on Gynecologic Practice. To perform robot-assisted procedures, doctors operate through small surface incisions with equipment outfitted with tiny cameras to transmit real-time data to a large OR monitor. This type of surgery has grown popular due to lower levels of post-operative discomfort and faster recovery times, not to mention its cosmetic appeal over open surgeries. Today, robot-assisted surgery is performed at over 2,025 sites in the U.S., with the number of procedures growing at a rate of 25% annually (1).

As the second most common surgical procedure in the United States, nearly 433,000 hysterectomies are performed each year. While the majority of these operations are still performed abdominally, MIS procedures are on the rise, with 9.5% of all hysterectomies performed robotically in 2010, up from 0.5% in 2007 (2).

Surgical Science has been working to address the growing demand for training in this technologically advanced field of MIS robotic procedures by partnering with leading industry and scientific groups. The company’s collaboration with Intuitive Surgical has enabled the offering of a training module for Hysterectomy on the da Vinci Xi surgical system. Using the newest robotic technology, the simulation enables hands-on training of a complete surgical procedure, with the ultimate goal of increasing patient safety. This collaboration is part of a mutual commitment to provide leading procedural simulation training to surgical institutions. Click here to watch a video of the virtual reality simulation module (contains graphic content).

Surgical Science’ collaboration with the FRGS group has led to the development of the Hysterectomy Procedural Tasks training module. The task-based module, which runs on Surgical Science’ RobotiX Mentor™, provides hands-on training of the key steps of the robotic hysterectomy surgical procedure as a part of the full education and training curriculum specified by the FRGS group. “The FRGS is excited to incorporate virtual reality surgical simulation for gaining the skills and knowledge critical to perform a successful robotic procedure,” said Dr. Jeffrey Levy, Board Member for the Institute for Surgical Excellence (ISE). “We believe simulation-based education and training will enhance the quality and safety of patient care.”

The new robotic training modules join Surgical Science’ comprehensive line of Simbionix training products for Women’s Health professionals, which will be available for hands-on demonstrations at the upcoming AAGL Global Congress, November 15-19, in Las Vegas, NV. The company also offers training for laparoscopic gynecologic surgery on the LAP Mentor, including a hysterectomy team training option, transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound practice on the U/S Mentor, pelvic exam competency training on the PELVIC Mentor, and 3D printed models for planning and training.

 

References:

Footnotes 1 and 2:  Committee on Gynecologic Practice, Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, Number 628, March 2015

Intuitive and Intuitive Surgical are registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical, Inc.