Cleveland, OH: Simbionix USA Corporation, the world’s leading provider of medical simulation, training and education products, announces that it is increasing its library of training opportunities on the ANGIO Mentor™ with the new EVAR Vascutek module.

Cleveland, OH: Simbionix USA Corporation, the world's leading provider of medical simulation, training and education products, announces that it is increasing its library of training opportunities on the ANGIO Mentor™ with the new EVAR Vascutek module.

The Simbionix ANGIO Mentor products are multidisciplinary surgical simulators that provide hands-on practice of endovascular procedures in a virtual reality simulated environment.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is defined as an increase of the abdominal aorta by at least 3 cm.

In the USA, annual mortality from AAA rupture is approximately 15,000 patients, making it the 13th leading cause of death in the United States.

Traditional surgical treatment of AAA involves a large incision to place a synthetic graft to repair the diseased artery.

This method may result in long hospital stays and painful recoveries.

Physicians continue to seek less invasive alternatives to this major open surgical approach.

Today, more physicians are treating AAA using the Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) approach which includes insertion of a synthetic graft via the femoral artery and placing it inside the aorta to repair the disease.

The EVAR approach is also associated with a shorter hospital stay as well as reduced complications and mortality compared to the traditional surgical treatment.

Despite that, it is still a very complicated procedure that requires advanced skills from surgeons.

Simbionix currently provides training tools and Virtual Reality (VR) simulators for most of the leading devices for EVAR procedures in the industry.  Now, the EVAR Vascutek module will help physicians practice the clinical and practical aspects of Vascutek's Anaconda™ stent graft system on various anatomies, using the latest techniques and therapeutic approaches available.

Paul Holbrook, President & CEO at Vascutek Ltd commented that "The endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm training module for Anaconda™ provides Vascutek with a specialized simulator enabling our dedicated team of Clinical Support Specialists to train clinicians worldwide on the deployment of the Anaconda™ stent graft system.  It also gives Vascutek the opportunity to further develop and enhance our clinician educational programs at international workshops and congresses.  Simbionix have been very responsive to meeting the specific requirements of Vascutek offering a professional service at all times."

"Understanding the important role simulation plays in training physicians on the use of various medical devices, Simbionix has always made a point of working in partnership with leading device manufacturers to provide the most realistic hands-on products," said Simbionix President, Mr.

Ran Bronstein.

"This goes hand in hand with our goal- To Advance Clinical Performance- as it has been proven that learning and practicing procedures on the ANGIO Mentor shortens the learning curve and helps surgeons keep up with the ongoing improvements in medical technologies."

To experience the EVAR Vascutek module hands-on, visit Vascutek's booth at the Veith Symposium, November 19-23, 2013 in New York, USA.

Simbionix USA Corporation is the world's leading provider of simulation, training and education products for medical professionals and the healthcare industry.

The company is committed to delivering high quality products, advancing clinical performance and optimising procedural outcomes.

Visit: www.vascutek.com  www.simbionix.com   FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

Contact: Rebecca Levy, Manager of Marketing Communications, at [email protected]