December 12, 2007 - Immersion Medical announced the launch of its new Transcatheter Aortic Valve module for its CathLabVR Surgical Simulator that helps train physicians for minimally invasive coronary valve replacement.
An estimated 450,000 patients in the U.S. suffer from severe stenosis of coronary valves, and many see valve replacement interventions as the future standard of care for many high-risk patients. Immersion Medical's new cardiac surgical simulation module is said to help accelerate learning and adoption of these minimally invasive life-saving procedures.
With eight cases that provide experience with four anatomies, the Transcatheter Aortic Valve surgical simulation module provides practice in:
- Navigation through either the femoral artery or through the apex of the left ventricle
- Balloon inflation to pre-dilate the aortic valve
- Use of fluoroscopy, cineangiography, and contrast injection to visualize and measure the aortic valve and determine a site for its correct placement
The CathLabVR Surgical Simulator uses actual diagnostic and therapeutic devices, such as catheters, balloons, stents, and distal protection devices. A procedural-based system, it allows trainees to practice and repeat cases of varying levels of difficulty and to experience and manage complications. The system's appropriately responsive physiology is reflected in vital-sign changes, hemodynamic wave tracings and patient audio responses that reportedly enhance the decision-making process. In addition, realistic haptic feedback t mimics the feel of the procedure. Visual aides, including the virtual 3D anatomy model and live fluoroscopy, help trainees understand vascular anatomy and device operation. A comprehensive performance report, automatically generated after completion of the surgical simulation, allows objective assessment of the user.
The system can also help prepare fellows to meet the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which call for a minimum of 300 cardiac catheterizations before training in coronary interventions, followed by a minimum of 12 months and at least 250 interventions.
For more information: www. immersionmedical.com
May 16, 2024 
