BACKGROUND
Surgical procedures performed laparoscopically have become the procedure of choice for more and more operations.
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) that offers viable and beneficial alternatives to a traditional open cavity surgery. It differs from an open cavity surgery in the method of access by incisions that are small holes to insert a special telescope used to illuminate and see the operative field. Prior to starting the surgery, the cavity is filled with gas to create space for operating and manipulation. The goal of MIS is to accomplish internal repair while the body surface remains as it was prior to surgery. Moreover, many laparoscopic procedures reduce recovery time and shorten hospital stays, so patients can return to their normal routine more quickly.
Virtual Ports' products address the needs of those involved in laparoscopic procedures --
- The need of surgeons to improve maneuverability and visibility for more efficient operations
- The need of healthcare providers to lower expenses
- The need of patients to reduce scarring and intra- and post-operative complications (today 2%-3% of the patients suffer from painful and costly complications), and to return to their normal activities faster
Virtual Ports' patent-pending system is based on internally anchored laparoscopic tools. Virtual Ports eliminates the traditional "port per device" equation. The company's first two stand-alone products are --
- EndoClear™: clean the camera lens (on the laparoscope) as needed without having to remove and reinsert the camera
- EndoGrab™: anchored retractor positioned and secured to organs
PRODUCTS
- EndoClear™
One of the problematic issues for laparoscopic surgeons today is the necessity to clean the camera lens several dozen times during a typical procedure (due to fog or blood or other matter sticking to the lens). The surgeon loses time, and the procedure is delayed every time the camera is removed from the cavity to clean the lens.
One disadvantage: once the camera is reinserted, the surgeon must re-establish its location within the cavity. Another is the gas leaking from the operating cavity and the increased risk of infection due to the removal and reinsertion of the laparoscope to the cavity.
Virtual Ports' EndoClear is internally anchored, permitting the surgeon to clean the camera lens without removing it from the cavity until after completing the procedure.
- EndoGrab™
EndoGrab is internally anchored to the patient's diaphragm or the internal abdominal wall. At the start of the operation, the physician will use a proprietary introducer tool, via a trocar, to insert the internal retractor into the cavity. Using the introducer, the internal retractor will be positioned and retract the internal organ (such as the colon). After the introducer tool is removed, the trocar will be available for use with other devices. Once the surgical procedure is completed, the introducer tool will remove EndoGrab from the cavity via the trocar.
ADVANTAGES & BENEFITS
Deploying Virtual Ports' tools will save significant expenses in every laparoscopic operation by --
- Reducing the number of trocars used
- Eliminating the need for an assistant in many procedures
- Reducing the time in the operating room
- Significantly improving the "ergonomics" for the surgeon
- Reducing the potential for unsightly cosmetic scarring
TEAM
- Udi Gordin, CEO and co-founder, worked at the Intel Corporation for five years, where he was a software engineer and a marketing representing in the Networking division. He was involved in international business engagements. Prior to founding Virtual Ports, Udi worked as CEO for Ocean Bricks, a start-up company that develops marine infrastructure solutions.
- Dr. Adrian Paz, medical advisor director and co-founder, is the head of the Urologic Laparoscopic Unit in the Urology Department at Barzilai Medical Center (Ashkelon, Israel). He is the inventor of Virtual Ports’ concept.
- Dr. Amir Szold, medical advisor, is the founder and past president of the Israeli Society of Endoscopic Surgery, assistant professor of surgery, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, and a member of the Technology Committee of the European Society for Endoscopic Surgery.
- Dr. Yoav Avidor, director of business development, has worked for Ethicon Endo-Surgery and Johnson and Johnson (as group product director for Global Bariatric Market Development). He has broad experience in the laparoscopic instruments arena and is well known for his expertise in business development in this field.
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| Development Status
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The FDA approved EndoGrab in 2007 and EndoClear in 2008.
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Medical Devices