CLEVELAND, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Simbionix USA Corporation has announced its new training simulator for pelvic floor repair, to be exposed for the first time at the ACOG 59th Annual Clinical Meeting in Washington, DC, April 30- May 4, 2011. 

 The Pelvic Mentor(TM) is an integrated hybrid system, combining a plastic mannequin with a computerized 3D virtual system. The simulator is intended to prepare gynecologists and urogynecologists for pelvic floor reconstruction with an emphasis on transvaginal mesh procedures. Pelvic organ prolapse is a common group of clinical conditions affecting millions of women around the world. Approximately 40% of women aged 40 to 80 are affected by pelvic organ prolapse, a condition in which weak pelvic floor muscles cause the pelvic organs to fall out of place. Pelvic organ prolapse can cause uncomfortable pelvic pressure, limiting the woman's physical activity and sexual intimacy. 

Pelvic floor reconstructive surgeries require surgical expertise, knowledge of both abdominal and vaginal physiology anatomy and experience with the procedure itself. This unique system was designed to allow trainees to obtain detailed knowledge of pelvic anatomy and to acquire comprehensive skills in pelvic reconstructive surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence to enhance patient safety. The Pelvic Mentor's innovative concept utilizes numerous external sensors that are either embedded inside a medical device or worn on the trainee's finger. These sensors, combined with the mannequin and the 3D picture, enable the trainee to obtain a real-time indication of the finger palpation or device manipulation on virtual anatomical structures.

The Pelvic Mentor is a strong didactic tool, enabling the trainee to receive real-time feedback while recognizing the relevant anatomical sections and / or manipulating the relevant medical device within the pelvis cavity. The unique combination of the model's anatomical structure, finger sensation and virtual model provide the most effective training tool to date.

"Utilizing cutting edge technology, we are introducing our first system to address the training needs for non MIS procedures, going beyond what is currently available in the industry", says Ran Bronstein, Simbionix President. "The Pelvic Mentor hybrid simulator takes the training experience one step closer to reality by combining true to life tactile sensation. The new hardware tracks the trainee's movements more accurately, allowing the instructor to better view the trainee's movements, and providing the trainee with a more complete training experience. The Simbionix Pelvic Mentor is yet another example of the company's commitment to provide comprehensive educational solutions for OB/GYN surgeons, joining the solutions provided on the LAP Mentor and the VirtaMed HystSim."