Immersion Medical Advances Training Methods for Colon Cancer Detection and Treatment; New Products Expand Realism of Medical Procedural Simulation.Business Editors & High-Tech/Medical Writers SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2001 Virtual reality medical education is an increasingly important trend in medical device technology and medical training. Immersion Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. of Immersion Corp. (Nasdaq:IMMR IMMR Internal Memory Map Register ), today announced the release of two software products that simulate performing colonoscopy biopsies and polypectomies. The biopsy module trains doctors to diagnose colorectal cancer colorectal cancer Malignant tumour of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Risk factors include age (after age 50), family history of colorectal cancer, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, benign polyps, physical inactivity, and a diet high in fat. , while the polypectomy module trains physicians to remove polyps Polyps A tumor with a small flap that attaches itself to the wall of various vascular organs such as the nose, uterus and rectum. Polyps bleed easily, and if they are suspected to be cancerous they should be surgically removed. in the colon, potentially halting the progress of the deadly disease. Both the biopsy and polypectomy software modules run on the company's AccuTouch(R) Endoscopy endoscopy Examination of the body's interior through an instrument inserted into a natural opening or an incision, usually as an outpatient procedure. Endoscopes include the upper gastrointestinal endoscope (for the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), the colonoscope (for the Simulator, which mimics the look, sound and feel of performing a variety of minimally invasive procedures. The new simulations incorporate advances in physiological modeling and force-feedback, allowing physicians to feel the sensations of navigating colonoscopes and manipulating small surgical tools through the scopes. This allows doctors to safely practice, refine and measure vital techniques without putting patients at risk. "The simulation enables us to teach students concepts which are very difficult to get across in a lecture. When trainees use the system, they put their abstract knowledge to use in a realistic and interactive environment," said Jacques Van Dam van Dam (Dutch for "of the dam") may refer to:
"Our continued advancements in medical simulation allow doctors to gain invaluable experience before coming into contact with patients," said Greg Merril, founder of Immersion Medical. "There is an immense demand for safety in medicine, so we're working to simulate as many procedures as possible, and the end is nowhere in sight." Availability The biopsy module is currently available for Immersion Medical's AccuTouch(R) Endoscopy Simulator. The polypectomy module is expected to be available in late August. How It Works During a colonoscopy, physicians use a flexible scope equipped with a fiber-optic camera to look for indications of cancer. To be certain of their diagnoses, they often must perform biopsies by guiding small sampling tools through the scope and into the colon to take tissue samples. If a cancerous or pre-cancerous growth, called a polyp polyp, in medicine, a benign tumor occurring in areas lined with mucous membrane such as the nose, gastrointestinal tract (especially the colon), and the uterus. Some polyps are pedunculated tumors, i.e. , is detected, a physician can remove it using a technique called polypectomy, during which a snare snare (snar) a wire loop for removing polyps and tumors by encircling them at the base and closing the loop. snare n. is guided through the scope and looped around the polyp. An electrical current in the snare then cuts and cauterizes the base of the polyp, allowing for removal without serious bleeding. In Immersion Medical's simulations, doctors view a realistic three-dimensional model of the colon that visibly reacts to scope movement. The feel of performing procedures is provided by Immersion TouchSense(TM) technology, which reproduces the tactile sensations of scope resistance, surgical tool manipulation tissue stretching and difficult colon loop navigation. Each computerized patient audibly responds to users' actions by expressing discomfort or pain. At the end of the simulation, the system generates a detailed performance evaluation Performance evaluation The assessment of a manager's results, which involves, first, determining whether the money manager added value by outperforming the established benchmark (performance measurement) and, second, determining how the money manager achieved the calculated return for review by users and supervisors. In addition to the colonoscopy modules, the AccuTouch Endoscopy system runs simulations for flexible sigmoidoscopy, which is also used for colorectal cancer screening, and flexible bronchoscopy flexible bronchoscopy Pulmonology Examination of the airways using a flexible bronchoscope, often performed at the bedside of critically ill Pts who may be too unstable to move to the OR or bronchoscopy suite; FB is used to visualize distal airways; generally, , which is used to diagnose a variety of lung diseases. Immersion Medical also produces simulations for a variety of vascular access vascular access Clinical medicine The ability to enter the vascular system; the ease with which the vascular system can be entered for administering therapy or obtaining blood for testing and endovascular procedures. Approximately 500 Immersion Medical simulators are used in hospitals, universities, and medical schools worldwide. About Immersion (www.immersion.com) Founded in 1993, Immersion Corp. (Nasdaq:IMMR) develops, licenses and markets advanced hardware and software technologies and products that let people touch the digital world. Immersion's haptic haptic /hap·tic/ (hap´tik) tactile. hap·tic adj. Of or relating to the sense of touch; tactile. haptic tactile. technology can be applied to virtually every digital experience including personal computing, entertainment, medical training, automotive interfaces, and three-dimensional simulation. Immersion's patented TouchSense(TM) technology can dramatically improve computer users' performance and productivity by unlocking their sense of touch and allowing them to feel what they see and do on the computer screen. Immersion's medical simulation systems allow healthcare professionals to improve their procedural skills and increase patient safety by using 'digital patients.' Immersion and its wholly owned subsidiaries hold over 100 issued patents worldwide. Immersion Medical -- formerly HT Medical Systems, Inc. -- is a wholly owned subsidiary of Immersion Corp. based in Gaithersburg, Md. The company designs, manufactures and markets computer-based medical simulation systems worldwide. The systems integrate proprietary computer software and tactile feedback robotics with new economical, high-powered computers to create highly realistic simulations. The company's three key product lines are the CathSim(R) Vascular Access Simulator, the AccuTouch(R) Endoscopy Simulator, and the AccuTouch(R) Endovascular Simulator. Forward Looking Statements Statements made in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including those that reflect management's current forecast of certain aspects of Immersion's future. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the development and performance of touch-enabled medical training software. Immersion's actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with Immersion's business which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for Immersion's touch-enabled medical simulation software products. Risks and uncertainties related to Immersion's business in addition to those described above are further outlined in Immersion's Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. . These reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Immersion is not obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion