Interact Medical
Executive Summary
Developing three interactive virtual reality products for preplanning surgery.
Business:3-D Modeling for surgery, Clinician training
Contact:Bruce Sturman, Chairman & CEO
Address:654 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212) 319-3500
Founded:May 1996
The adoption of new minimally-invasive surgeries is difficult because it requires proficiency in new techniques and because anatomy is hidden from the surgeon’s view. Interact Medical Technologies is developing three interactive virtual reality products which allow surgeons to preplan surgery based on 3-D modeling of patient anatomy, track surgical instruments, and train physicians in new techniques on a medical “flight simulator”. Company was formed by the acquisition of 3-D modeling company Medical Media Systems and Ixion, a developer of simulation software.
Interact’s lead product is 510K-approved Preview, sold to surgeons for pre-op, post-op and follow-up on specific patients. System launched in June 1996 with an initial focus on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA). Previewconverts 2-dimensional CT scans (or MRI scans) which clinicians send to Interact, into 3-D images of patient’s anatomy. System allows surgeons to measure, for example, aortic neck diameter, necessary for selecting an arterial stent graft site. Current 2-D measurements by angiography and CT are inaccurate. System sells for $900-$1500. Future versions to include other anatomical applications. Under a May 1996 agreement, Interact granted Baxter Vascular Systems co-exclusive rights to sell Preview in connection with treating AAA and other aneurysms.
GastroSimis an interactive virtual reality training system, initially designed to teach endoscopy to gastroenterologists and family practitioners. Student works on a mannequin body part with realistic instruments (providing the sensation of cutting, for example) and is coached by the system via computer monitor and an audible narrative which explains procedures, remediates and grades users. GastroSim compresses the experience of 100-200 procedures into one week vs. one month using conventional training.
Interact funded with $18 million to date from Baxter and from predecessor companies Medical Media Systems and Ixion. Chairman & CEO Bruce Sturman formerly co-Chairman of the Cooper Companies and subsequently at Maxal Capital. Chief Technical Officer Steve Pieper, PhD formerly president of Medical Media Systems.—MS