Abigail Klein Leichman
October 1, 2014, Updated September 30, 2014

A novel medical device for laparoscopic surgery, made by Israel’s LapSpace Medical, is about to hit the US market following final clinical trials and FDA clearance.

The inflatable laparoscopic retractor was used successfully in patient trials in the United States by Dr. Bruce Ramshaw and in India by Dr. Surendra Ugale to retract patients’ intestines during laparoscopic abdominal surgery. However, the surgeons found LapSpace suitable also for retracting more “solid” organs, such as the liver.

Accordingly, the company — a portfolio company of The Trendlines Group in Misgav — has increased its estimated market potential to more than eight million laparoscopic surgeries a year.

“We are extremely satisfied to have met our clinical goals, which demonstrate that the LapSpace device provides effective organ retraction as well as numerous other advantages,” said Assaf Livne, CEO of LapSpace Medical.

Inflated once inside the abdominal cavity, the LapSpace retractor gently “catches” and retracts organs, such as the intestines, to create a stable operating field. It has a self-retaining clamp to keep it in place for long periods of time. When the procedure is completed, the device is deflated and removed through the entry port.

Omer Schalit-Cohen, Trendlines Medical’s vice present for business development, predicted that the patent-pending LapSpace retractor “will soon be the gold standard for retraction of organs in laparoscopic procedures.”

LapSpace is beginning marketing and sales in the United States and has started the process for CE clearance to enable sales in Europe.

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