Israel’s PolyTouch Medical has received FDA clearance to market its PatchAssist laparoscopic hernia mesh placement device. The tool was developed to allow surgeons a more predictable and standardized approach to apply hernia patches. PatchAssist easily unfolds the mesh inside the abdominal cavity, accurately places the mesh over the hernia defect and enables surgeon to verify the mesh position before attachment is made. Patch Assist does not change laparoscopic techniques used today by surgeons, rather it eliminates manual, complicated, and time consuming tasks.

PolyTouch Medical Ltd. has announced that it has received broad FDA 510(k) clearance to commercialize PatchAssist(TM). PatchAssist is an innovative laparoscopic surgical instrument that enables accurate and rapid delivery and placement of soft tissue prosthetics for a variety of procedures, including laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVHR). PatchAssist enables surgeons to rapidly deliver and position soft tissue prosthetics over the defect potentially reducing operation time by 30% – 50%.

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Bovie Medical Corp has received clearance to sell a device that cuts and reseals tissue in kidney surgeries. The FDA has approved market of Bovie’s laparoscopic SEER device, which is used for cutting and coagulating soft tissue. It is intended to be used in partial removal of kidneys. Bovie said the laparoscopic SEER, or Saline Enhance Electrosurgical Resection, device is an extension a line the company launched earlier this year.

Virtual Ports Ltd has obtained EU CE Mark for its EndoGrab device that reduces the number of incisions (or ports) needed to perform laparoscopic surgical procedures. EndoGrab is an internally anchored, hands-free retracting device that eliminates the need for the hand-held retractor that is traditionally used during laparoscopic procedures. This would reduce scarring and some of post-surgical complications associated with abdominal incisions.

A study published in the June 2009 issue of the Archives of Surgery depicted that laparoscopy-assisted surgery for early gastric cancer resulted in a 98.8% three-year overall survival rate in patients with early gastric cancer. Laparoscopic gastrectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, in contrast with the total removal of the lymph nodes in traditional treatment. In Laparoscopic gastrectomy, a surgeon removes the stomach through a lighted tube, eliminating the need for large surgical incisions and possibly reducing the risk of infection, healing complications, pain and blood loss.

Covidien Ltd. has received approval from the FDA to market a surgery kit for use in laparoscopic procedures. Covidien’s SILS Procedure Kits can be used by surgeons to perform the procedures through a single incision through a patient’s belly button. The kit is set for launch this summer.