Simbionix and USF Receive Grant to Support Development of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Simulation

CLEVELAND, Ohio, June 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Simbionix Ltd., a subsidiary of Simbionix USA Corporation, the world's leading provider of medical education and simulation training products for medical professionals and the healthcare industry, and USF Health, an organization dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health, are proud to announce that together they received a BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Grant to support the development of a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module.

The BIRD Foundation was established by the U.S. and Israeli governments in 1977 to generate mutually beneficial cooperation between the private sectors of the U.S. and Israeli high tech industries, including start-ups and established organizations. BIRD provides both matchmaking services between U.S. and Israeli companies, as well as funding covering up to 50 percent of project development and initial product commercialization costs.

Developing this new Laparoscopic Hysterectomy module supports Simbionix' goal for including complex advanced procedures in their comprehensive LAP Mentor(TM) Simulator. It also reaffirms Simbionix' commitment towards improving the quality of care in the field of Women's Health. Approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the US, making it the second most frequently performed major surgical procedure. The Laparoscopic Hysterectomy procedure requires greater surgical skills than the vaginal and abdominal methods, and as such necessitates performing approximately 15 procedures before surgeons become proficient. Since this procedure is difficult to teach using conventional methods, practicing Ob-Gyns may have never received laparoscopic training during their residency. The new module will use medical simulation teaching methods to provide the necessary complex skills acquisition and training for surgeons.

Dr. Stephen K. Klasko, CEO of USF Health and Dean of the USF College of Medicine stated: "As simulation technology expands its use as a driver for quality and safety in medicine, it will take great organizations working together. At USF Health, we have been a leader in applying technology to improve the health of our community. Over the past year, USF Health has had the opportunity to work with Simbionix, the world's leading provider of medical education and simulation products to deliver training for medical students, residents, practicing physicians and other healthcare professionals to enhance technical competence and improve patient outcomes. The award of the BIRD grant provides a fantastic opportunity for us to work with Simbionix to develop the first laparoscopic hysterectomy simulation module for training GYN surgeons in minimally invasive surgery techniques. This project has the potential to have a huge impact on the quality of practice of gynecologists worldwide. Through us working together, our doctors, our patients and the health of our communities will stand to be the winners."

"Simbionix makes it a priority to cooperate with the medical community on a regular basis for the advancement of medical education and training" says Simbionix President Ran Bronstein. "We are honored to have received this grant and to be working on this exciting project in conjunction with USF. Simbionix' unique, advanced simulation technology, combined with the clinical and educational expertise of USF Health's collaborating physicians, and USF Health's experience in integrating medical simulation into certifiable curricula, will ensure that the advanced GYN - Hysterectomy simulation module will truly be an innovative and critical contribution to improving women's healthcare."

About Simbionix USA Corporation

Simbionix is the world's leading provider of simulation and training products for medical professionals and the healthcare industry. Founded in 1997, the company is committed to delivering high quality products, advancing clinical performance and optimizing procedural outcomes.

For more information on Simbionix, visit http://www.simbionix.com

About USF Health

USF Health (http://www.health.usf.edu) is dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health. It includes the University of South Florida's colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of biomedical sciences as well as physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. With more than $380.4 million in research grants and contracts last year, the University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community-engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

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SOURCE Simbionix Ltd.