Cleveland, OH: Simbionix USA Corporation, the world’s leading provider of medical education and simulation training, has been granted a US patent for its patient specific simulation product, thePROcedure Rehearsal Studio™ (PRS). This follows a similar patent granted in the United Kingdom and is the first such patent ever granted in the United States.

The PROcedure Rehearsal Studio is a first in industry product, which utilizes revolutionary technology, developed by Simbionix, to allow physicians to rehearse a complete endovascular procedure on a virtual 3D anatomical model based on a specific patient’s CT data. The virtual model may then be used for the purpose of simulating, analyzing and evaluating preoperative surgical treatment options prior to performing the actual procedure, which may increase physician’s confidence in the upcoming procedure. Once the 3D model has been exported to the Simbionix ANGIO Mentor™ simulation environment, the physician can practice numerous times to evaluate different techniques, while using true-to-life tools and endografts.

The patent was granted on Simbionix’s concept and proprietary core technology used in order to simulate an image guided angioplasty procedure based on input from a patient’s 3D medical image, allowing a hands-on planning and rehearsal experience. Unique to Simbionix simulation systems, the 3D segmentation model can be exported to the Simbionix ANGIO Mentor practice environment. The results are an advanced method of creating an ever expanding library of unique clinical case studies for training and post-operative debriefing. The patent also covers various broad uses for the technology including use in DICOM format, use of 4D data, use as a study case (i.e. post-operative use), demonstration of a planned procedure to a patient etc.

Mr. Boaz Tal, Simbionix CFO added that “With this key patent and three FDA 510(k) clearances granted for the PROcedure Rehearsal Studio applications (Carotid, EVAR and TEVAR), Simbionix once again demonstrates its key position as a market leader and innovator in the field of medical simulation. Having been granted the patent is an additional sign of recognition for the Simbionix comprehensive line of products, which provide innovative solutions to enhance clinical performance and advance patient safety.”

Cleveland, OH:  Simbionix provides Cardiovascular Technology (CVT) programs with training simulators that deliver a virtual reality experience for their students.  Valencia College in Orlando, FL, utilizes this technology in their Allied Health Department’s CVT program.

Community college educators use Simbionix simulators to provide hands-on experience for their students in cardiovascular and peripheral vascular training. Some of the modules on the ANGIO Mentor include Coronary, CRM (Cardiac Rhythm Management), Renal, SFA, Iliac, and BTK (Below-the-Knee).

“Ultimately, the use of simulation in the Health Science programs at Valencia is critical to the student’s training, said Penny Conners, Dean of Allied Health, Valencia College.  “In our cardiovascular technology program, with the aid of the Simbionix simulator, our students are able to replicate the exact procedures that they will be performing in the hospital setting. In this regard simulation helps the students to understand and put safety first for the patients so they can give the best care possible while working in their field.”

The ANGIO Mentor provides experience with basic/advanced guidewire and catheter skills, familiarity with endovascular procedures, cath lab team experience.  Other skills include how to operate the C-arm, patient’s table, fluoroscopic screen, as well as how to read the hemodynamic monitoring and administer medications due to complicated treatment.  The simulator offers hands-on training that is designed to enhance manual dexterity and improve appropriate instrument decision making.  Students feel the high-end haptic that provide realistic simulation of guidewire, balloon, stent and other interventional devices.

“The ANGIO Mentor has been widely embraced by medical colleges in the education of surgical residents and fellows,” said Inbal Mazor, VP of Marketing for Simbionix. “Now, our portable haptic simulators and vast library of modules and cases have been embraced by community college CVT programs.”

Team training exercises build confidence and help students understand the requirements of all of medical team members.  Patient safety is the primary focus of the vast curricula and validation studies have reinforced the value of simulators in professional development.

Cleveland, OH:  Simbionix USA Corporation, the world’s leading provider of medical simulators and education solutions, is pleased to announce an agreement with Duke University to license surgical videos and other instructional materials.  These resources were developed by Duke physicians and they cover the advanced skills and procedures addressed in Phase 2 of the ACS/APDS Surgical Skills Curriculum for Residents.

Simbionix will make these materials available at no cost to the users of its MentorLearn system as part of the implementation of the ACS/APDS Surgical Skills Curriculum for Residents. MentorLearn is a web-based simulator curricula management system that provides the optimal solution for managing training and education needs for the Simbionix line of simulators.

The main strength of MentorLearn is the incorporation of didactic materials with skills training.  The surgical videos and materials from Duke and other leading institutions are coupled with the complete procedures in the Simbionix simulators.  This is a powerful combination for learners who can see an actual surgery, followed by conducting the same procedure in a simulated environment.

“The Simbionix collaboration with Duke University’s Department of Surgery will give surgeons-in-training around-the-world exposure to the techniques and case management practices from experienced surgeons to whom they wouldn’t routinely have had access,” said Paul Jensen, Simbionix General Manager, Education Division.

“By providing a link between simulated learning and real-world cases, we hope to enhance the value of our training curriculum to our residents,” said Philip Clark, Education Director at Duke University, Department of Surgery

“The real case footage we are creating with Duke will improve resident’s cognitive understanding of surgical procedures,” said Jensen. “Coupling the insight of Duke’s surgeons with Simbionix’ hands-on simulators will improve training efficiency and allow trainees to reach proficiency sooner.”

About Duke University:

Duke University is a nonprofit educational, research and healthcare institution located in Durham, North Carolina.

Cleveland, OH: Traditionally, the only way to assess technical skills in the medical field has been through unstructured, subjective observation. Therefore, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery^TM (FES^TM) program has taken a giant step toward more reliable and valid measures of surgical performance to improve patient safety. As part of this initiative, SAGES together with Simbionix™, a leader in surgical simulation, have developed the first ever virtual reality system that can objectively assess surgical endoscopic skills.

The FES program is a comprehensive educational module and assessment tool designed to teach and test the fundamental knowledge, clinical judgment and technical skills required in the performance of basic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic surgery (endoscopy). FES intends to set a validated benchmark of understanding and necessary skills in basic endoscopy in order to improve the quality of patient care.

The Simbionix GI Mentor™ is a top–of-the-line endoscopic medical simulator for the training of gastrointestinal upper and lower endoscopic procedures. The simulator provides multiple training opportunities with true-to-life patient cases offering realistic scenarios of clinical situations using customized actual tools. The GI Mentor provides a comprehensive environment for practicing clinical procedures in a safe and realistic manner.

The FES test measures cognitive knowledge and judgment, and uses the GI Mentor virtual reality platform to evaluate fundamental technical skills. The educational module consists of a web-based multimedia presentation of didactic content. Those who successfully complete both the educational and assessment components will have demonstrated the basic knowledge, judgment and technical skills fundamental to the performance of endoscopic surgery.

After long development and validation of the module using the Simbionix GI Mentor, the SAGES FES exams will be officially up and running in Spring 2013. Medical professionals taking this test will be objectively assessed, with tests sites being restricted to general surgery residency programs in the US and Canada. Among the first test center sites are University Hospitals- Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio; The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas; and McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec.

To experience the realistic virtual reality hands-on training available on the GI Mentor, visit Simbionix booth #609 at IMSH, January 27-29 in Orlando, FL.

SAGES is a not-for-profit professional membership organization which represents a worldwide community of surgeons that bring minimal access surgery, endoscopy and emerging techniques to patients in every country. Representing over 6,000 surgeons and allied health professionals, their mission is to provide leadership in surgery, particularly gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery, in order to optimize patient care through education, research and innovation.

Cleveland, OH: Simbionix USA Corporation, a world leader of medical simulation training and education products, will introduce a record number of new products at the upcoming American College of Surgeons Exhibition, including the MentorLearn™ Online solution for both the LAP Mentor™ and the GI-BRONCH Mentor™, the new LAP Mentor™ Appendectomy Module, the Suturing Module for the da Vinci®Si™ Skills Simulator and a Suggested Implementation of the ACS/APDS Surgical Skills Curriculum.

MentorLearn, the company’s web based Simulator Management System, provides the optimal solution for managing training and education needs for the Simbionix line of simulators. Being available on both the LAP Mentor and the GI-BRONCH Mentor allows training centers the opportunity to incorporate multi-disciplinary simulators into the residency curriculum, and provide documentation of training for accreditation and certification – which is the ideal solution for the ACGME requirement for simulation based training.

The LAP Mentor Appendectomy Complete Procedure Module provides training for the skills and knowledge of key components of the Appendectomy procedure. The module enables practicing a variety of techniques and appropriate use of surgical instruments. An anatomical 3D map, real-life videos, interactive 3D guidance and comprehensive objective performance metrics enrich and enhance the learning experience.

Simbionix has partnered with Intuitive Surgical® to develop the Simbionix Suturing Module for virtual reality simulation of suturing on the Skills Simulator™ for the da Vinci®Si™ System.

This module is a continuation of Simbionix’s effort to provide highly realistic and effective tools designed for cost-effective integration in surgical curricula across multiple disciplines and technologies.

The new LAP Mentor curriculum deployed on the MentorLearn application- “Simbionix Suggested Implementation of the ACS/APDS Surgical Skills Curriculum for Residents, Phase 2: Advanced Procedures”, adheres to the objectives outlined by ACS/APDS and their corresponding training modules, incorporating Simbionix complete procedure simulation within the modules where applicable, and premium video based educational content.

Gary Zamler, Simbionix CEO, commented: “I am proud to work in a company that has maintained its mission as stated when established, to continuously create partnerships and products to provide the most advanced tools in the market. Our close collaboration with the surgical community is one of our building blocks, assisting us in our ongoing process of enhancing our simulators by adding training modules to both our systems and to additional surgical solutions created by others,  and expanding learning opportunities and learning processes. Our goal is to provide medical education programs and accrediting bodies with flexible yet complete training tools.”

Stop by Simbionix booth #2026 at ACS, October 1-3, in Chicago, IL, for a hands-on experience of the LAP Mentor, LAP Mentor Express, GI-BRONCH Mentor and recently introduced GI Express, alongside our new products.