Beverly, Mass. – March 31, 2011 – Microline Surgical, Inc., a leading manufacturer of reposable instruments for minimally invasive surgery, launched its MiSeal™ Reposable Thermal Ligating System at The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) 2011 Scientific Session & Postgraduate Course in San Antonio this week. MiSeal™ is the first and only reposable device that simultaneously seals and divides soft tissue and vessels using direct thermal energy, offering surgeons the ability to achieve exceptional patient outcomes at a considerable cost advantage.
MiSeal™ is comprised of a reusable handle and disposable tips, combining the precision of a fully disposable instrument with the economic benefits and quality of a fully reusable handpiece. Unlike conventional products that use monopolar, bipolar or ultrasonic energy as modes of operation, MiSeal™ features proprietary tissue welding technology, which employs direct thermal energy and focused pressure to create a high-integrity seal and a clean division, while minimizing the risk of collateral tissue damage.
Paul G. Curcillo III, M.D., F.A.C.S., Director, Minimally Invasive Surgical Initiatives and Development, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pa., co-developed the Single Port Access (SPA™) technique with Stephanie King, M.D., Director, Minimally Invasive Gynecology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pa. Dr. Curcillo has used tissue welding to perform a variety of advanced laparoscopic procedures, including SPA, and notes the benefits of incorporating a reposable platform into the SPA philosophy.
“MiSeal™ offers all of the clinical benefits of tissue welding technology – precision, safety and reliability – combined with the economical benefits derived from a reposable design,” said Dr. Curcillo. “With MiSeal™, I can perform advanced surgeries through a single port without adding cost to the procedures. This fits in nicely with the philosophy of Single Port Access surgery, which is approaching this new platform from an economical and ecological standpoint. In addition, with two active jaws, I can use MiSeal™ to not only cut and seal but also grasp and dissect. It minimizes instrument exchanges and reduces procedure times. The O.R. staff and management appreciate the device as well because it is small, portable and easy to set up, further increasing efficiency in the O.R. with decreased costs.”
The 5mm MiSeal™ features heating elements at the distal tip, which are activated by a finger switch located on the handpiece of the device. The instrument’s dual-action jaw can be used as a dissector or grasper, minimizing instrument exchanges and improving efficiency in the operating room. MiSeal™ is powered by the Universal Power Supply (UPS), a compact, three-pound, reusable power source that can hang from an IV pole or sit on a tabletop, offering ease of set-up and use, which can reduce procedure and clean-up time.
According to Sharad Joshi, president and chief operating officer of Microline Surgical, MiSeal™ is the first product to bring to fruition the collaboration between Microline Surgical and Starion Instruments, which Microline acquired in April 2009.
“The marriage of Microline’s reposability with Starion’s tissue welding technology provides surgeons with advanced instrumentation to safely and effectively perform laparoscopic procedures while taking into consideration the financial restraints present in today’s cost-conscious healthcare environment,” said Joshi. “Furthermore, from a strategic business standpoint, it signals Microline’s continued expansion into new surgical applications and growth within existing markets.”
Microline will be showcasing the new MiSeal™ at the SAGES 2011 Scientific Session & Postgraduate Course in San Antonio from Thursday, March 31 through Saturday, April 2 in booth number 352. For more information on MiSeal™, please visit www.microlinesurgical.com.
About Microline Surgical
Headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, Microline Surgical, Inc. is a leading U.S. medical device manufacturer of high quality reposable surgical laparoscopic instruments. Founded in 1987, Microline is a wholly owned subsidiary of HOYA
Corporation (7741:TSE) in Tokyo, Japan, a $4.5 billion company with approximately half of its revenues from medical business including endoscopy and eye care. Microline’s integrated modular laparoscopic instrumentation system consists of a selection of reusable handpieces that utilize a broad assortment of disposable tips. This concept allows for surgical efficiency and cost effectiveness to be preserved at all times. The
Company’s patented product portfolio comprises cutting, dissecting, grasping, cauterizing and ligating instruments used in all laparoscopic surgical procedures. For more information, visit www.microlinesurgical.com.
