Cardica and Intuitive Surgical to Host Educational Symposium: Advanced Techniques and Technologies in Robotic Coronary Revascularization and Mitral Valve Repair'

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Jan 21, 2008 (ASCRIBE NEWS via COMTEX) -- ISRG | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Cardica and Intuitive Surgical announced they will host an evening symposium on the topic of "Advanced Techniques and Technologies in Robotic Coronary Revascularization and Mitral Valve Repair."

The symposium will feature Intuitive's da Vinci Surgical System and Cardica's C-Port Distal Anastomosis Systems, which are designed to allow surgeons to automate the attachment of blood vessel grafts during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures, replacing traditional hand-sewn sutures.

The educational event will take place on Sunday, January 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time at the Renaissance Hotel Grand Ballroom in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. during the 44th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the largest meeting of cardiothoracic surgeons in North America. The activity is not part of the official scientific program of STS.

"This symposium offers cardiothoracic surgeons an opportunity to learn from their peers who are leading the adoption of beating heart robotic CABG surgery and the establishment of robotic mitral valve surgery as standard of care," said Louis A. Brunsting, III, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon for Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. "The Cardica C-Port systems and da Vinci Surgical System featured during this symposium have the potential to revolutionize the field of cardiothoracic surgery, as they may facilitate a more widespread adoption of completely closed-chest, robotic-assisted coronary artery bypass grafting."

During the symposium, five leading cardiac surgeons will present on the following topics:

-- Husam Balkhy, M.D., of The Wisconsin Heart Hospital -- "Clinical Outcomes in Revascularization of the LIMA to LAD with an Automated Anastomotic Device" -- Daniel Bethencourt, M.D., of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center -- "A Stepwise Approach to Building a Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program" -- Louis A. Brunsting, III, M.D., of Centennial Medical Center -- "An Evolution in Robotic Revascularization" -- Douglas A. Murphy, M.D., of Saint Joseph's Hospital -- "Endoscopic Mitral Valve Surgery -- Toward Complete Repairability" -- J. Michael Smith, M.D., of Good Samaritan Hospital -- "The Convergence of Technology in Robotic Mitral Valve and Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery"

To register for the symposium, please contact Angie Lupkes at 608-215-4520 or Angie.Lupkes@intusurg.com or visit Cardica's booth at the STS conference, the companies noted in a release.

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((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))

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