Surgical makes first US shipment of medical device

The Leeds-based firm said it has sent its first batch of PretzelFlex devices through a deal struck with CareFusion, with a second batch shipping in December,

The device is used to lift and reposition organs and tissue in the stomach during minimally-invasive surgery, to give surgeons better access.

Surgical Innovations chief executive Graham Bowland said: “We are extremely pleased to announce the first shipment of the PretzelFlex device in accordance with agreed delivery dates.

“The American College of Surgeons congress in Chicago was a great success with substantial interest in the device from attending surgeons of all nationalities. With our distribution agreement with CareFusion, we are confident that this product will be the retractor of choice with US surgeons.”

PretzelFlex, a laparoscopic retractor, is commonly used in gastric bypass surgery. For this type of operation the liver must be moved in order to obtain access to the upper stomach. PretzelFlex makes it easier for doctors to retract large or swollen livers which are common in obese patients.

The device takes its name from its pretzel-like appearance. It won approval from US regulators in March.

The device is manufactured by Surgical Innovations for CareFusion and has already launched in Europe.

Surgical Innovations did not say how much the contract is worth, or how many units it shipped.

Its deal with CareFusion is for eight years.

It also recently attended the International Society of Hip Arthroscopy exhibition in Boston, US, where its pre-production hip arthroscopy products were “well-received” by surgeons from across the globe.

The group employs more than 120 staff at its 32,000 sq ft facility in Leeds, with in-house design, plastic injection moulding and manufacturing equipment.

It has ambitions to double the size of its office and hopes to include an operating theatre at a new, unspecified site.

It has already secured around £7m from the Government’s regional growth fund.

Surgical Innovations also has plans to move into the spinal, lungs, heart and brain surgery markets.

Last month the firm announced flat half-year results due to the phasing of orders which are now due to fall in the second half. The company said half year revenues to June 30 fell five per cent to £3m and pre-tax profits were flat at £475,000.

Surgical Innovations is shortlisted for two awards at the Yorkshire Post’s Excellence in Business awards on Thursday.

It is competing for the award for companies with a turnover under £10m, sponsored by Yorkshire Bank. The firm is also shortlisted for the exporter of the year award, sponsored by thebigword.