Surgical names distributor for the States

The distributor will promote Leeds-based SI’s Logi Range and YelloPort+plus products across Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio under the terms of a three-year distribution agreement.

The distributor is based in Indianapolis and will cover over 430 hospitals across the three designated US states through its dedicated sales team.

SI’s chief executive Graham Bowland said: “This contract is evidence of SI’s strategy to penetrate the US market and optimise the opportunity located there.

“Rick Barnett was appointed at the beginning of the month and in this short period of time has already secured this new distributor, which will help develop SI’s presence in the US.

“Other US dealer agreements are in the pipeline and the market will be updated accordingly.”

SI is gearing up for major expansion in America. It announced Mr Barnett’s appointment at the beginning of this month.

He joined from Integrated Medical Systems where he provided on-site clinical support for minimally invasive procedures.

Mr Barnett’s role is to drive the sale of SI branded products in the US.

He has taken responsibility for managing the various US sales channels that have already been established and his role will be to expand the US business using his experience in the endoscopic sector.

The company said its new dealers will become champions of SI’s new products for keyhole surgery and will push these products to surgeons across the US.

It said the US is its largest market opportunity, with 28 per cent of overall revenues generated there in 2012.

One of SI’s key products the Pretzel-Flex, a pretzel-shaped device that can reposition large organs such as the liver during keyhole surgery, has gained FDA approval.

In January, the latest 3mm version of the Pretzel-Flex, which is smaller than previous versions, also received FDA approval to be sold in the US.

Last week SI said it is to use its innovative keyhole surgery techniques to examine jet engines without having to take them apart.

The group is looking at other industrial areas following a new funding deal with its long-standing industrial partner, thought to be Rolls Royce.

The group said the funding will be used to develop a bespoke solution to allow jet engines to be inspected while they are still on the wing.

At the moment the engine has to be completely taken apart and stripped off in order to carry out routine maintenance or fix a problem.

Mr Bowland said: “Our keyhole surgery flexible technology enables us to go into restricted areas, whether they are restricted by space, heat or radiation.

“It helps to reach places where you can’t go.

“We can find a pathway through and get an instrument through – be it a probe, a screwdriver or a bolt cutter. It’s incredibly clever technology.

“It proves that the technology we’ve been working on works. We can do keyhole surgery on the wing.”

Surgical’s design engineers have developed a unique pathway into the engine that winds its way down like a snake and delivers an instrument that examines that part of the engine.

“We don’t make probes and screwdrivers. We provide the delivery mechanism.

“It’s keyhole surgery on jet engines,” said Mr Bowland.

Surgical is currently looking at other industrial areas where it can apply its keyhole surgery techniques.