Titan Medical Inc. Announces the Formation of Its Surgeon Advisory Board
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 09/25/14 -- Titan Medical Inc. ("Titan" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: TMD)(OTCQX:TITXF) today announced that it has formed a Surgeon Advisory Board (SAB) that includes seven industry-renowned surgeons who specialize in minimally invasive procedures.
Headed by Dr. Dennis Fowler, Titan's Executive Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, the SAB will assist Titan's executive management team during the development, pre-clinical testing, and clinical testing of the Single Port Orifice Robotic Technology (SPORT™) Surgical System. Additionally, these surgeons will participate in the development and implementation of a formal training program for the surgical teams who will use SPORT™.
"We are very proud to assemble such an experienced Surgeon Advisory Board, which will be essential in the development and commercialization of SPORT™," said John Hargrove, Chief Executive Officer of Titan. "All of the Board members are leaders in minimally invasive surgery with a clear understanding of patient benefits and needs. Their profound knowledge and expertise in the space will be invaluable in guiding us through the developmental and testing processes, as well as in positioning SPORT™ in the global market."
The members of Titan's Surgeon Advisory Board include:
Arnold Advincula, M.D. is Vice-Chair of Women's Health & Chief of Gynecology at the Sloane Hospital for Women, Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital, and is also Vice-President of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopy (AAGL). He is a leader in minimally invasive surgical techniques and one of the world's most experienced gynecologic robotic surgeons, and he has both published on and taught these techniques extensively. Dr. Advincula also developed surgical instruments that are in use worldwide.
Juliane Bingener, M.D. is Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair for Quality, Safety and Service in the Department of Surgery in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, where she also has a joint appointment in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Her clinical and research interests focus on patient reported outcomes and novel technology in the use of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. Dr. Bingener's previous work included the development of novel Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) techniques.
Erik Dutson, M.D. is Associate Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Section of Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery at UCLA, where he is also the Executive Medical Director of UCLA's Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT). His clinical interests include laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery, while his research interests focus on the development of computer-assisted technology, such as virtual and augmented reality applications for use in surgical technology.
Adrian Park, M.D. is Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Chair of the Earl Simulation to Advance Innovation and Learning Center of Anne Arundel Health System in Annapolis, Maryland. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and was founding President and Board Chair of the Fellowship Council. His clinical and research focus is on improving minimally invasive surgery and developing new medical devices for complex hernia repair, spleen and adrenal surgery. He is the editor-in-chief of Surgical Innovation, the author of over 200 scholarly articles, and the holder of 20 patents.
Lee L. Swanstrom, M.D. is Chief of the Division of GI and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Oregon Clinic, Director of Providence Health System's Complex GI and Foregut Surgery Postgraduate Fellowship Program, and Clinical Professor of Surgery at OHSU. He is a Director of the American Board of Surgery, Past President of both SAGES and the Fellowship Council, and Chief Innovations Officer and Director of the Innovations Fellowship at the Institutes des Hôpitalo Universitaires of the University of Strasbourg, France. His clinical and research focus is on developing innovative approaches to the minimally invasive treatment of foregut and other gastrointestinal disorders. He is editor of Surgical Innovation, the author of over 350 scholarly articles, and holder of 13 patents.
John Valvo, M.D. is Executive Director and the founder of the Robotic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Program at Rochester General Hospital in Rochester, New York and a practicing urologist. Founded in 2004, the program ranks in the top two percent of robotic programs for surgery volume in the United States. The program has trained over 30 robotic surgeons and enabled the completion of more than 7,000 robotic urology, gynecology, general, and colorectal operations. He has authored more than 100 scientific articles including the development of policy guidelines for robotic surgery credentialing.
Yanghee Woo, M.D. is Assistant Professor of Surgery and the Director of the Global Excellence in Gastric Cancer Care at Columbia University Medical Center. She is an upper gastrointestinal surgeon with unique international training in minimally invasive/robotic surgery and has expertise in the surgical treatment of tumors of the stomach, pancreas, small bowel, gallbladder and bile ducts. Dr. Woo is internationally recognized as a leader in robotic surgery for tumors of the stomach and pancreas. She has numerous peer-reviewed publications.
About Titan Medical Inc.
Titan Medical Inc. is a Canadian public company focused on the design and development of a robotic surgical system for application in minimally invasive surgery ("MIS"). The Company's Single Port Orifice Robotic Technology, SPORT™ Surgical System, currently under development, is comprised of a surgeon-controlled robotic platform that includes a 3D vision system and interactive instruments for performing MIS procedures, and a surgeon workstation that provides the surgeon with an interface to the robotic platform for controlling the interactive instruments and providing a 3D endoscopic view of inside a patient's body during MIS procedures. The SPORT™ Surgical System is being designed to expand robotic surgery into both simple and complex areas of surgical specialties and procedures that are currently under-serviced. It is also being designed to allow surgeons to perform procedures within small- to medium-size surgical spaces, such as general surgery and cholecystectomy. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.titanmedicalinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which reflect the current expectations of management of the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "potential for" and similar expressions have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those listed in the "Risk Factors " section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated April 4, 2014 (which may be viewed at www.sedar.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in the news release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
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Titan Medical Inc.
John Hargrove
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(416) 548-7522 (ext. 151)
john.hargrove@titanmedicalinc.com
www.titanmedicalinc.com
Source: Titan Medical Inc.
Released September 25, 2014