Immersion Medical Introduces New Laparoscopic Procedural Skill Module

Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR), a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology, announces that Immersion Medical has released a new procedural module for its laparoscopic surgical simulator (http://www.immersion.com/medical/products/laparoscopy), the LaparoscopyVR™ (LapVR™) system, introduced this past June. Laparoscopic procedures account for as many as 70% of all high-volume surgeries in the U.S. and the trend is expected to continue.(1) The new Running the Bowel (RtB) surgical simulation module trains procedural skills commonly needed during trauma, general, OB/GYN, bariatric, and colon-rectal surgery. "Running the bowel requires careful technique, and Immersion Medical’s LapVR simulator provides a remarkably realistic training environment to develop this skill,” said Dr. Andrew J. Duffy, assistant professor of surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. "The system reproduces the feel of handling the intestines and allows practice of the hand-over-hand technique and other bowel manipulations.” Suspected injury to the small intestine is commonly investigated through the running the bowel procedure, in which the surgeon inspects the length and all sides of the small intestine. The new RtB module makes the LapVR surgical simulator the first to provide interaction with the bowel’s mesentery connective tissue, providing a very realistic training environment for learning inspection, measurement, and manipulation of the small intestine. The new RtB surgical simulation module teaches a systematic approach to evaluating the small intestine and can help instill the ability to make accurate measurements of the bowel and to also use a stapler, such as for gastric bypass surgery. The procedure provides three different techniques for appropriately measuring lengths of bowel. Additionally the simulator provides metrics to evaluate the user’s techniques, precision, movement, errors, and amount of inspection completed. The module supports hand-over-hand and side-to-side techniques to help the user acquire the necessary hand-eye coordination and dexterity before addressing actual patient cases. "Immersion Medical’s new Running the Bowel module allows trainees to learn to minimize injury to the bowel and mesentery,” said Dr. Kevin Kunkler, vice president and medical director of Immersion Medical. "The simulations allow use of different two-handed techniques and the mesentery adds an extra layer of realism. It’s very important for students to understand, both visually and through resistance, bowel-mesentery interaction and how much the bowel can be stretched.” The LapVR virtual reality surgical simulator (http://www.immersion.com/medical/products/laparoscopy) is designed as a complete system with tightly integrated TouchSense® haptic hardware and software. The surgical simulator provides a physics-based environment that allows authentic and realistic graphical movement of tissue and organs integrated with realistic tactile feedback forces felt through the trocar arms and handles. The surgical simulation system comes with widely viewable monitor suitable for team training, virtual camera, tools, and Administrator, Essential Skills, Adhesiolysis, and Lap Chole surgery modules -- all packaged in an ergonomic, height-adjustable, wheeled cart. The LapVR surgical simulator includes a curriculum that follows industry training standards, providing key material needed to administer effective training programs for both individuals and teams. Institutions can also import their own didactic video content directly into the surgical simulator for customized training. Immersion Medical is committed to providing a wide range of multidisciplinary simulation training modules that can have a positive impact on patient care. The company focuses on providing tightly integrated hardware and software solutions to deliver a realistic experience including the look and feel of laparoscopic surgeries. (1) The U.S. Market for Medical Devices - Opportunities and Challenges for Swiss Companies. 2004. Swiss Business Hub USA, Chicago. About Immersion Medical, Inc. (www.immersionmedical.com) Immersion Medical, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets computer-based surgical simulation training systems (http://www.immersion.com/medical/surgical_sim.php) worldwide. The medical and surgical simulators integrate proprietary computer software and tactile feedback robotics to create highly realistic medical simulations that help train clinicians. The company’s key product lines are the Virtual IV system, Endoscopy AccuTouch® Simulator, CathLabVR™ surgical simulator, and LaparoscopyVR™ surgical simulation system. About Immersion (www.immersion.com) Founded in 1993, Immersion Corporation is a recognized leader in developing, licensing, and marketing digital touch technology and products. Using Immersion’s advanced touch feedback technology (http://www.immersion.com/corporate/products/), electronic user interfaces can be made more productive, compelling, entertaining, or safer. Immersion’s technology is deployed across automotive, entertainment, industrial controls, medical training, mobility, and three-dimensional simulation markets. Immersion’s patent portfolio includes over 600 issued or pending patents in the U.S. and other countries. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than the statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of earnings, revenues, or other financial matters; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning consumer response that may occur as a result of the new simulator procedural module release, or consumer or market acceptance of simulator products for medical training, continuing education or evaluation or consumer and market acceptance of force feedback products in general; proposed products or services; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statement or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Immersion’s actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for our products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of force feedback as a critical user experience. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in our most current Form 10-Q, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect our beliefs and predictions as of the date of this release. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or any other developments occurring after the date of this release. Immersion, the Immersion logo, AccuTouch, CathLabVR, LapVR, LaparoscopyVR, and TouchSense are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.