Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, February 18, 2009
Immersion Delivers Haptic Medical Simulation for Minimally Invasive Stroke Prevention Procedure
SAN JOSE, Calif.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR), the leading developer and licensor of [ touch feedback technology ], announces the availability of new carotid intervention training modules for its CathLabVR surgical simulator. The new modules provide multi-modal (sight, sound and touch) virtual reality training for carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS), a minimally invasive procedure performed to help prevent strokes. Strokes are the third leading cause of death in the United States. Powered by Immersion's programmable high-fidelity haptic feedback, the modules provide lifelike simulation of an actual CAS procedure outside the operating room where doctors can practice and perfect their skills at this sophisticated technique prior to performing it on a live patient.
"Realistic touch feedback is the future of medical simulation," said Daniel Chavez, senior vice president and general manager of Immersion's medical line of business. "As newer, less invasive life-saving procedures become commonplace, the need for highly effective, lifelike training for these challenging procedures is rising. With our proven expertise in delivering world-class medical simulation solutions, Immersion is ready to meet that demand and help the medical community better prepare clinicians to save lives."
Approximately 800,000 people experience a new or recurrent stroke each year in the United States. Catheter-based endovascular procedures like carotid angioplasty and stenting can be the best approach to prevention for some at-risk patients. Yet these procedures require intensive training and many procedures to perfect. Haptic-enabled simulation gives clinicians the ability to learn and maintain these skills without the use of animals or human cadavers and without the cost or risk of training during an actual procedure.
Additionally, access to carotid stenting procedures is limited by the availability of clinical specialists who are trained in performing CAS and in using cerebral protection devices such as distal occlusive balloons and distal filter baskets, which are proven to significantly reduce the risk of post-operative strokes. The Immersion carotid module includes training in the use of these embolic protection devices.
For some patients, carotid angioplasty and stenting is a safer approach to stroke intervention than carotid endarterectomy, the traditional surgical treatment for carotid artery blockages which are the leading cause of strokes. Advantages include local instead of general anesthesia, fewer potential surgical complications, shorter operations, shorter recovery times and the ability to treat arteries that are hard to reach.
Immersion's new carotid module is designed for its virtual reality interventional catheterization CathLabVR Surgical Simulator (formerly the Endovascular AccuTouch® System), allowing clinicians to practice many types of endovascular procedures such as coronary and peripheral vascular interventions, cardiac pacing, and cardiac valve replacements.
Minimally invasive endovascular surgeries require careful attention to interpretation of fluoroscopic images as well as the subtle feel transmitted through guide wires, catheters, and other interventional devices. The CathLabVR virtual reality system, which simulates the look and feel of actual surgeries, helps clinicians to develop skills prior to performing on patients and to maintain those skills throughout their professional practice.
Benefits include Immersion's TouchSense® patented force feedback technology integrated with visual and audio responses to replicate the look and feel of surgery; comprehensive physics-based virtual models that closely reproduce patient anatomy; SmartCapture tool recognition that enhances realism by automatically recognizing and responding to instrument insertion and removal; the ability to insert and rotate up to four instruments simultaneously, and real-time display of fluoroscopic and cine images to provide realistic rendering. Many more benefits are discussed at [ www.immersion.com/medical ].
About Immersion's Medical Line of Business
Immersion designs, manufactures, and markets computer-based surgical simulation training systems worldwide. The medical and surgical simulators integrate proprietary computer software and tactile feedback robotics to create highly realistic medical simulations that help train clinicians. The company's key product lines are the Virtual IV system, Endoscopy AccuTouch(R) simulator, CathLabVR surgical simulator, and LaparoscopyVR surgical simulation system.
About Immersion ([ www.immersion.com ])
Founded in 1993, Immersion Corporation is the recognized leader in developing, licensing, and marketing digital touch technology and products. Using Immersion's advanced touch feedback technology, electronic user interfaces are more compelling, entertaining, and in many applications, safer and more productive. Immersion's technology has helped manufacturers develop innovative and creative solutions for products such as hundreds of video games and leading video console gaming systems, medical training simulators installed around the world, driver controls for automotive manufacturers, and mobile phones, such as those from LG and Samsung. Immersion's patent portfolio includes over 700 issued or pending patents in the U.S. and other countries.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
All statements, other than the statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements, including the statement regarding realistic touch feedback being the future of medical simulation. Immersion's actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business, which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for our products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of force feedback as a critical user experience.
For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in our most current Form 10-Q, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect our beliefs and predictions as of the date of this release. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or any other developments occurring after the date of this release.
Immersion, the Immersion logo, TouchSense, CathLabVR, LaparoscopyVR, SmartCapture and AccuTouch are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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