Ovesco presents the whole range of OTSC® products at the 14th International Endoscopy Symposium, a notable meeting under the patronage of ESGE, ASGE, and DGVS. Presidents are Prof. Dr. Horst Neuhaus and Dr. Brigitte Schumacher, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Düsseldorf.

Congress venue:
Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf
Maritim-Platz 1, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany

Please visit us at booth # 017.

Further information:
www.endo-duesseldorf.com

January 2012 | OTSC® has greater hemodynamic efficacy in stopping spurting bleeding in the EASIE model than other endoscopic clips

Dr. A Naegel, Dr. J. Maiss and colleagues from the 1st Department of Medicine at Erlangen University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany, published the results of an ex vivo trial on OTSC® in the treatment of upper GI hemorrhage in the January issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

The setting of the trial was prospective for studying OTSC® and used a historic control group of alternative endoscopic clips, studied earlier under identical model conditions. The Erlangen Active Simulator for Interventional Endoscopy (EASIE), used for the study, represents a well-established and standardized ex-vivo model for training and research. The EASIE model is equipped with an active and pressure-controlled bleeding simulator, operating a close to physiological hemodynamic conditions. Two investigators took part in the trial, each treating 16 standard EASIE bleeding sites. Both investigators used either suction through the scope for positioning the OTSC® applicator cap at the bleeding site or the OTSC® Anchor (n=8, each application condition). Systemic pressure in the EASIE circulation system was measured one minute before, during and one minute post clip application to objectify the effects of clipping on the vessel diameter. In result, OTSC® clipping led to significant increase of systemic pressure (indicating effective hemostasis) and vessel diameter decrease (p<0.001). The application technique had no significant effect on the main outcome variable. Historic comparison with conventional endoscopic clips, studied earlier, demonstrated a significantly higher hemodynamic efficacy of the OTSC® system.

Hemodynamic efficacy of the over-the-scope clip in an established porcine cadaveric model for spurting bleeding
Naegel A, Bolz J, Zopf Y, Matthes K, Mueller B, Kraus F, Neurath MF, Maiss J.
Gastrointest Endosc. 2012 Jan;75(1):152-9.
[Epub 2011 Nov 17]

January 2012 | Ovesco exihibits at ARAB HEALTH 2012, January 23–26,
in Dubai

Ovesco attends ARAB HEALTH, the largest healthcare exhibition & congress in the Middle East, and the second largest in the world.
All Ovesco products will be on display.

Please visit us at booth ZN10,
Za'abeel Hall.

Further information:
www.dothealth.com/exhibitions/
arabhealthonline/directory

January 2012 | Experimental trial on full-thickness perforation closure with OTSC®: defects 20 to 30 mm safely closed with one clip

The Boston research group around Dr. K. Matthes, Children’s Hospital and Dr. R. Chuttani, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School, investigated the defect sizes to be closed by one clip. The study was done as a prospective ex-vivo trial in the endoscopic simulator. Full-thickness defects were created in colon and gastric porcine tissue models; defect sizes were standardized in steps from 10 to 35 mm and 5 to 25 mm, respectively. Each site was treated 5 times and tested each time for burst pressure under water.
The results of the study were recently published in the December issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Successful closure in the stomach was achieved in all defect sizes from 5 to 20 mm with 12 mm OTSC® clips. Mean burst pressure was 74.9 +/-17.5 mm Hg for 15 mm defects and 49.3 +/- 21.6 mm Hg for 20 mm defects.
In 25 mm lesions the mean burst pressure was not adequate with one clip. In the colon successful closure was feasible up to 30 mm with one clip. Mean burst pressures were 117.9 +/- 40.1 mm Hg for 20 mm defects and 57.4 +/- 4.2 mm Hg for 30 mm defects. 35 mm lesions were not adequately closed with one clip.

The authors see the limitations of their study in the ex-vivo conditions and the endoscopy simulator situation which may not reflect difficult conditions. For larger lesions than 20 mm in the stomach or 30 mm in the colon more than one clip is needed.

Efficacy of full-thickness GI perforation closure with a novel over-the-scope clip application device: an animal study
Matthes K, Jung Y, Kato M, Gromski MA, Chuttani R.
Gastrointest Endosc. 2011 Dec;74(6):1369-75.
[Epub 2011 Oct 7]

January 2012 | Unusual case of foreign body-related lower GI bleeding managed with OTSC®

Dr. Mihnea H. Strain and colleagues from the Dept. of Gastroenterology of Victor Babes University Hospital, Timisoara, Romania, report about an unusual case of lower GI hemorrhage. A male patient was diagnosed with a toothpick impaction at the recto-sigmoid junction. Normally swallowed toothpicks are entrapped in the upper digestive tract. In the reported case endoscopic removal was possible and hemostasis was achieved by means of OTSC® clipping.

Successful Endoscopic Treatment of an Unusual Cause of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding Using the OVESCO System
Mihnea H. Strain, Dorina M. Chisevesu, Sorin Potopea.
Journal of Gastrointestinal Liver Disease 2011;20(1):85-7

December 2011 | Closure of therapy-resistant enteric fistula with OTSC® clip and OTSC® anchor

PD Dr. J. Grossmann and colleagues, Evangelisches Krankenhaus, Moenchengladbach, Germany, report about a special case of OTSC® treatment in the recent issue of Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift.

A patient suffered from recurrent subphrenic abscesses following a complicated postoperative course after sigmoidectomy for chronic recurrent diverticulitis. Two previous attempts of abscess treatment by transcutaneous drainage had failed. Radiographic studies revealed a fistula of the descending colon leading to the abscess formation. An OTSC® clip was applied on the enteric fistula, retracted by means of the OTSC® anchor. This led to complete closure of the fistula within four days as demonstrated by radiographic studies and repeat dye installation. Subsequently the transcutaneous drainage was successfully removed within 14 days of OTSC® application without recurrence of abscess formation.

Endoskopischer Verschluss einer chronischen Fistel des Kolons unter Anwendung des „Over-the-scope“-Clips (OTSC) [Article in German]
[Endoscopic closure of a chronic colonic fistula using the over-the-scope clip (OTSC)]
Grossmann J, Diening C, Althoff C.
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2011 Nov;136(44):2245-8.
[Epub 2011 Oct 25]

December 2011 | Systematic literature review: OTSC® is a safe and uncomplicated alternative to surgery in perforation closure

The recent issue of “Endoskopie heute”, the official journal of the German Society for Endoscopy (DGE-BV), publishes a systematic literature review on Ovesco’s  OTSC® clip. The paper, presented by Dr. A. Kirschniak et al., Dept of Surgery, Tuebingen University, Tuebingen, Germany, summarizes data of 37 original Medline-referenced publications. This includes 29 clinical and 8 experimental publications.
In summary the authors state that the current literature supports the use of OTSC® for the closure of spontaneous and iatrogenic perforations in the digestive tract up to 20 mm in size.

OTSC-Clipsystem – Klinische Anwendungen und Experimentelle Erfahrungen – Systematischer Review
[OTSC-Clip System – Clinical Applications and Experimental Experiences – A Systematic Review]
Kirschniak A, Falch C, Kirschniak N, Storz P, Kratt T.
Endo heute 2011; 24: 195-200

December 2011 | OTSC® featured in Advanced Course in Interventional GI Endoscopy at IRCAD, Strasbourg, France, 12-13 December 2011

The OTSC® system will be featured in the Advanced Course in Interventional GI Endoscopy organised at the Laparoscopic Training Center of the renowned IRCAD/EITS – Institut de Recherche contre les Cancers de l’Appareil Digestif. EITS, the European Institute of TeleSurgery is the surgical education platform of IRCAD France, Course directors are G. Gay and T. Ponchon. Participants will be international high-level hepatogastroenterologists, interventional endoscopists and surgeons.

December 2011 | Ovesco Endoscopy USA Inc Update – In Q4 of 2011 Ovesco Endoscopy USA has continued to gain significant exposure in the US market

In October we attended the ACG – American College of Gastroenterology – meeting in Washington DC which was attended by over 4,000 physicians. OTSC® was a featured product for 2 days in the hands-on learning center training physicians and fellows.

In November we were highlighted at the Interventional Endoscopy: New Frontiers 2011 meeting in San Francisco. Dr. Ken Binmoeller used the OTSC® system in a live transmission case and closed 2 complex gastric fistulas in the same patient.

This past week the University of California in San Diego highlighted the OTSC® system in many presentations at the Hands-On Endoluminal, NOTES Course. OTSC® was also showcased in the Hands-On training session.

Next week Ovesco will be attending the 35th Annual New York Course – The New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy – a key meeting for Therapeutic Gastroenterologists. Ovesco will participate in the hands-on learning center and will be highlighted in the Hands-On Management of Endoscopic Emergencies: Getting out of a jam session.

Congress venue:
New York Marriott, Marquis Hotel
1535 Broadway, NewYork, NY 10036

Please visit us at booth # 505.

Further information: www.nysge.org

Acceptance of the OTSC® system in the US continues to grow at a fast pace as we continue to broaden our commercial reach and prepare for 2012.

November 2011 | Live demonstration of successful OTSC® application at VIDEO DIGEST 2011 in Paris, France

During a live transmission from Lyon to the VIDEO DIGEST 2011 (National Congress of the Société Française d'Endoscopie Digestive) in Paris, Marc Barthet from Marseille demonstrated the successful closure of a gastrocutaneous fistula in an obese patient who had undergone gastric sleeve resection. Three stents had failed before. The fistula was located near the Cardia. Thus it only could be reached in retroflex position of the endoscope. Prof. Barthet used the OTSC® Anchor for proper attachment of the OTSC® cap to the fibrotic tissue at the orifice of the fistula. Postinterventional radiography with contrast means proved complete closure.

November 2011 | In retrospect: OTSC® notably mentioned at UEGW, October 22–26, 2011, Stockholm, Sweden

The OTSC® clip was the topic of numerous scientific presentations at UEGW 2011. The primary areas of application of Ovesco’s over-the-scope-clipping technology include the treatment of severe upper GI hemorrhage, the closure of acute perforations and the closure of chronic lesions of the wall, e.g. fistula.
Clinicians from various centers presented their data on the use of OTSC:

E. Wedi et al., Hildesheim, Germany, presented a mixed case series of 24 patients treated between February 2009 and March 2011. 15 patients suffered from upper GI bleeding, refractory to other treatments,1 from a laceration at the GE junction after balloon dilatation for achalasia, 1 from injury of the duodenum after laparo-scopic cholecystectomy and 5 from iatrogenic post-interventional perforations and 1 from a persistent PEG fistula. The overall success rate in this mixed series was 79%. 2 complications were related, 1 perforation of a sigmoid diverticulum by device passage and 1 unintended clipping on the shaft of an instrument with subsequent removal. The authors also presented an overview about the results of other OTSC case series reported in the literature. The overall success rate in these cases was 86%.
P0003 A NEW VALUABLE TOOL FOR THE ENDOSCOPIST: THE OVER-THE-SCOPE CLIP (OTSC) – CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TREATMENT OF GASTROINTESTINAL LEAKS, BLEEDINGS AND FISTUALS IN 24 PATIENTS
Edris Wedi, Germany; Detlev Menke; Elena Kruse;
Jürgen Hochberger

Marc Barthet, Marseille, France, and his group presented preliminary data of a prospective study on the endoscopic treatment of postoperative GI fistulas with the OTSC® system. In 19 patients (23-76 years) they treated 11 gastro-cutaneous fistulas after sleeve resection (bariatric surgery) with a success rate of 91%. The overall success rate was 74% with 42% primary, and 32% secondary efficacy. Barthet pointed out explicitly that an initial failure should not deter the endoscopist. He concluded that the OTSC® system represents a satisfactory alternative, in first and second intention, in the treatment of postoperative GI fistulas.
P0012  ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT OF DIGESTIVE FISTULA WITH OTSC CLIPS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY
Monica Surace, Italy; Pascale Mercky; Jean-François Demarquay; Rémy Dumas; Veronique Vitton; Jean-Charles Grimaud; Marc Barthet
( Paper accepted for publication in GIE.)

Daniel v. Renteln from the Hamburg (Germany) group of Thomas Rösch presented data from an animal study where they created 2-cm large lesions in the distal colon with an OTSC® prototype: the colonic wall was pulled and sucked into a large transparent cap, electric snare and special OTSC® clip preloaded. Full resection was successful in all 8 animals, in one case 2 additional clips had to be placed for complete closure, in one case clip release failed. Altogether the authors conclude that this device allows for reliable full-thickness resection and closure of the colonic wall in a single procedure as well as reliable wound healing of EFTR defects.
OP202  ENDOSCOPIC FULL-THICKNESS RESECTION AND DEFECT CLOSURE OF THE COLON WALL USING A CLIP AND CUT TECHNIQUE
Daniel von Renteln, Germany; Thomas Kratt; Thomas Rösch; Ulrike Denzer; Guido Schachschal
Full paper: GIE 2011 Nov; 74(5): 1108 -14

Thomas Hucl et al. presented data from a porcine survival model where they compared feasibility and safety of gastric and colonic NOTES closure using the OTSC® system (10 animals each). Closure was successful in all 20 animals with mean application time of 8 min (stomach) and 5 min (colon). Histology revealed transmural healing in all animals. Due to signs of mucosal inflammation in some animals further investigation is recommended according to the authors (although they are probably just normal in this setting, acc. to Ovesco).
OP204  OVER-THE-SCOPE-CLIP CLOSURE OF GASTRIC AND COLONIC ACC ESS SITES IN NATURAL ORIFICE TRANSLUMINAL ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY
Tomas Hucl, Czech Republic; Marek Benes; Matej Kocik; Martin Krak; Jana Maluskova; Eva Kieslichova; Martin Oliverius; Julius Spicak

The Munich (Germany) group around A. Meining reported of 16 prospective patients with gastric subepithelial masses (<3 cm). Solely endoscopic resection was possible in 12/16 cases. In 4/12 patients gastric perforation occurred and was cured with an OTSC® clip successfully. The authors conclude that "endoscopic snare resection of gastric subepithelial masses (< 3cm) seems to be a safe and minimal invasive procedure. If perforation occurs, it can be adequately managed by placing the OTSC® clip. These results can be regarded as a further encouraging step towards transgastric endoscopic surgery."
P1080  ENDOSCOPIC FULL THICKNESS RESECTION OF GASTRIC SUBEPITHELIAL MASSES – A STEP TOWARDS NOTES?
Christoph Schlag, Germany; Stefan von Delius; Hubertus Feussner; Dirk Wilhelm; Analena Beitz; Roland M Schmid; Alexander Meining

Donatsky et al. evaluated the feasibility of combining transgastric (TG) pure NOTES peritoneoscopy and intraperitoneal EUS (ip-EUS) with intralumenal EUS (il-EUS) for peritoneal evaluation, and the safety of EUS-guided access and OTSC® clip closure in a survival model with 10 pigs. All animals survived with histologically proven full-thickness closure again with signs of inflammation and micro-abcesses. They conclude that NOTES peritoneoscopy and ip-EUS are feasible and render sufficient peritoneal evaluation, given that the OTSC® system ensures a full thickness closure of the stomach.
P1044  TRANSGASTRIC PURE NOTES WITH PERITONEOSCOPY AND INTRAPERITONEAL EUS. A PORCINE SURVIVAL AND FEASIBILITY STUDY
Anders Meller Donatsky, Denmark; Luise Andersen; Ole Lerberg Nielsen; Barbara Holzknecht; Peter Vilmann; Søren Meisner; Lars Nannestad Jørgensen; Jacob Rosenberg

Thomas Hucl et al. reported of NOTES-assisted transgastric cholecystectomy in a porcine survival model with 10 pigs. The intervention was successfully performed in all cases (mean overall time 85 min). OTSC® closure was successful in all cases as well (mean time 9 min, range 4-12 min). All animals survived without complication. The authors concluded that hybrid cholecystectomy was feasible and safe with the OTSC® system for gastric closure being safe and efficient.
P1180  NOTES ASSISTED MINILAPAROSCOPIC TRANSGASTRIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY
Tomas Hucl, Czech Republic; Matej Kocik; Marek Benes; Martin Krak; Jana Maluskova; Eva Kieslichova; Martin Oliverius; Julius Spicak

Pierre H. Deprez gave an oral presenation on 193 ESD procedures with en-bloc resection rates of <95%, and R0 resection in 87% of cases. He emphasizes that all bleedings and all but 2 perforations were controlled by endoscopic means including the use of the OTSC® system.
OP026  LOW COMPLICATION RATE FOR ESD: REPORT ON 193 PROCEDURES IN THE ESOPHAGUS, STOMACH AND DUODENUM
Pierre H. Deprez, Belgium; Hubert Piessevaux

A remarkable oral presentation was given by Anne Vijverman from the group of P. H. Deprez on the outcome of iatrogenic perforations of the GI tract. They had reviewed a total of 40,243 procedures (over 6 years) including EUS, ERCP and EMR/ESD where altogether 44 perforations occurred. 8/44 perforations (1 esophagus, 7 duodenum) were handled with the OTSC® system. Amongst others, the authors concluded that their high rates of successful endoscopic management of iatrogenic perforations led to better outcomes in terms of length of hospital stay compared to surgery.
OP447  BETTER OUTCOME OF ENDOSCOPIC MANAGEMENT VS SURGERY FOR UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL PERFORATION
Anne Vijverman, Belgium; Hubert Piessevaux; Tarik Aouattah; Jean-François Gigot; Pierre H. Deprez

November 2011 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG and Novolab S.A. in Lima sign contract for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco's OTSC® products in Peru

Ovesco is happy to welcome Novolab S.A., Lima, a leading distributor of medical products in Peru as exclusive distribution partner who will hence market and distribute Ovesco‘s OTSC® products in Peru.

See "Contact us"

November 2011 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG announces extension of the management team

Ovesco Endoscopy AG announces the appointment of its Director of Engineering, Chi-Nghia Ho, as Vice President of its newly founded division “Therapeutic Devices”, comprising its established business in therapeutic flexible endoscopy. Chi-Nghia Ho has led Ovesco’s engineering since the beginning of commercial operations and has made a significant contribution to the success of Ovesco’s OTSC clipping technology.

With the acquisition of new assets in the area of telemetric devices, Ovesco is now building a second division “Diagnostic Systems”. Sebastian Schostek was appointed as Vice President. He had led engineering at novineon Healthcare Technology Partners, an affiliate company of Ovesco, for many years. During that time he has created breakthrough diagnostic technology platforms, especially within novineon’s VECTOR business unit. At Ovesco he and his team will continue their work for commercialization of these developments.

November 2011 | Ovesco announces acquisition of novineon’s VECTOR business unit and Sensocor Ltd., both Tuebingen, Germany

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has acquired two technology assets from its affiliate company novineon Healthcare Technology Partners GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany.

Ovesco is an innovative and rapidly growing company in digestive endoscopy. novineon has built a strong technology portfolio in telemetric endoscopic devices. Through its coordinating participation in the strategic research project VECTOR, funded by the European Commission in FP6, novineon has developed new systems in the field of robotically guided wireless capsule endoscopy. The corresponding business unit, novineon VECTOR, has now been transferred to Ovesco, for initiating commercialization as medical products.

In addition, Ovesco has acquired all shares in Sensocor Ltd., also Tuebingen, Germany, a subsidiary of novineon. Sensocor, in collaboration with novineon, has developed telemetric sensor technologies for the detection of GI hemorrhage. Both assets will be the core of Ovesco’s new business division Diagnostic Systems which will complement its existing business in Interventional Devices for digestive endoscopy.

Thomas Gottwald, member of the executive board of Ovesco stated: "We are very excited about this acquisition. These novel technologies provide an excellent starting point to build our new division for smart diagnostic systems."
Marc Schurr, managing director of novineon Healthcare Technology Partners said: " I am proud that the telemetric and robotic endoscopic technologies, developed by novineon researchers, will now form the basis for innovative medical products to diagnose conditions of the digestive tract with minimal invasion."
Frank Ramsperger, chairman of the supervisiory board of Ovesco added: "novineon’s VECTOR business unit and Sensocor are a perfect match for filling Ovesco’s product pipeline in the field of diagnostic systems for the mid-term future."

November 2011 | OTSC® in bariatric surgery complications: SGI 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea

The 5th Meeting of the Society of Gastrointestinal Intervention was held in Seoul, South Korea, October 14 & 15. Ovesco’s OTSC system was referenced as an effective and safe tool for the treatment of bariatric surgery complications by Prof. Marc Barthet, Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France, and Prof. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Asia Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, India.
Prof. Barthet presented his experience with OTSC as a method for closing fistulas resulting from bariatric surgical procedures.

SGI 2011, Seoul, Korea

Ovesco Endoscopy AG provides information about OTSC® in the treatment of bariatric surgery complications in its new clinical bulletin:

otsc® system
clinical bulletin volume 1_Bariatric Surgery (pdf)

October 2011 | Ovesco welcomes United Medical Ltda., São Paulo, as new partner for distribution of our products in Brazil

Ovesco is happy to announce that we have contracted United Medical Ltda. in São Paulo, Brazil, a leading distributor of medical products, to market and distribute Ovesco‘s OTSC® products and the Traction Polypectomy Snare in Brazil.

See "Contact us"

October 2011 | 3 Swiss university hospitals offer EASIE-R course on OTSC® clipping in Lausanne, Switzerland, November 19, 2011

The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) in Lausanne organizes a training course on endoscopic clipping techniques, including Ovesco’s OTSC® clip. The course is held in collaboration with the Hôpitaux Universitaire de Genève and the UniversitätsSpital Zürich. Prof. Gian Dorta, the course organizer, is joined by his colleagues Prof. Jean-Louis Frossard and Prof. Peter Bauerfeind in giving lectures and running practical classes on endoscopic clipping techniques and clinical indications. Ovesco’s OTSC® clip is part of the programme. Course participants will be trained using interactive EASIE-R phantoms by Endosim.

For further information click here to get the flyer:
Cours EASIE-R | Clip training (pdf)

For registration you may contact:
CHUV
Secrétariat Prof. Gian DORTA
Mme Isabelle Noir
Phone : +41 21 314 06 80
Fax : +41 21 314 07 07

October 2011 | Ovesco exihibits at UEGW 2011 and takes part in the ESGE Hands-on Learning Area|October 22–26, 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden

Ovesco attends UEGW Stockholm 2011, the 19th United European Gastroenterology Week, landmark meeting of the UEGF, United European Gastroenterology Federation, and displays its OTSC® product line at the industrial exhibition.

Please visit us at booth A06:15 in Hall A.

Further information: www.uegw11.uegf.org

October 2011 | Ovesco publishes OTSC® update 8 on research conducted with its OTSC® clip

Ovesco is proud to publish OTSC® update 8 containing a number of further relevant publications on research conducted with the OTSC® clip.

The newsletter is now available for download:

OTSC® update 8 | research & clinical trials
(pdf, A4 format)

OTSC® update 8 | research & clinical trials
(pdf, letter format)

At the joint congress of the DGVS and the DGAV (German society of digestive & metabolic disease and German society of general and visceral surgery) the OTSC® System was discussed by surgeons and gastroenterologists in the session Complications with interventions in the upper GI tract.

Following lectures titled “Therapeutic concept for intrathoracic anastomotic insufficiency” and “Therapeutic concept for intraabdominal anastomotic insufficiency” session participants were sharing their clinical experience with the device. Both presenters are positive about the OTSC® System as an endoscopic device for the closure of anastomotic leaks and fistulas. One surgeon reported on his clinical experience where the OTSC® System was successfully used for the closure of two anastomotic leaks.

September 2011 | Endoscopic treatment of perforated peptic gastric ulcer: case report of two patients

The surgical unit CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet vid Karolinska Universitetssjukhus Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden, reports of a 42-year old woman with a 3x4-mm perforation in the antrum which was successfully treated with the OTSC® System. The patient was discharged after 4 days. At follow-up, a month later, the patient presented fully recovered.
The second patient, a 83-year old man, had a 23-mm perforation which could also be closed successfully using two OTSC® clips.
The authors conclude that endoscopic closure with the OTSC® System offers an interesting alternative to conventional surgical treatment of peptic ulcer perforations.

Click here to view the presentation:

Att behandla perforerade peptiska ventrikel-ulkus med endoskopi; fallrapport på två patienter
Fredrik Swahn, Lars Enochsson, Magnus Nilsson, Lars Lundell, Matthias Löhr, Urban Arnelo
Enheten för kirurgi, CLINTEC, Karolinska Institutet vid Karolinska Universitetssjukhus Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
(pdf, by courtesy of Urban Arnelo MD PhD)

September 2011 | Closure rate of 90 % in fistulas, anastomotic leaks and perforations treated with OTSC® : new case series published

A new case series, reported by Dres Sandmann, Heike and Faehndrich, Klinikum Dortmund Mitte, Germany, was published in the German Zeitschrift fuer Gastroenterologie. The authors present a series of 10 patients with penetrating defects within the digestive tract. Pathologies were fistulas (esophagotracheal, esophagopleural, gastrocutaneous and colovesical), perforations (after mucosectomy, after papillotomy and PEG misplacement) and anastomotic leakages (after gastrotomy and gastrectomy). They report a closure success rate of 90 % (9 out of 10 patients).

Application of the OTSC System for the Closure of Fistulas, Anastomosal Leakages and Perforations within the Gastrointestinal Tract
Sandmann M, Heike M, Faehndrich M.
Z Gastroenterol. 2011 Aug;49(8):981-5
[Epub 2011 Aug 2]

August 2011 | OTSC® clip among most promising technologies for closure of perforations in the digestive tract

In the latest issue of the Spanish journal Gastroenterología y Hepatología
Dr. F. Junquera and colleagues, from the Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Corporación Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Spain, describe the OTSC® system and its use in full thickness perforations of the digestive tract. The authors conclude that OTSC® is one of the most promising technologies for closure of perforations of the gastrointestinal tract because of its efficacy, safety and rapidity. Other indications include severe gastrointestinal bleeding, fistulae, anastomotic leaks, and bariatric surgery anastomosis remodelling.

OVESCO: a promising system for endoscopic closure of gastrointestinal tract perforations
Junquera F, Martínez-Bauer E, Miquel M, Fort M, Gallach M, Brullet E, Campo R
Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2011 Jul 12. [Epub ahead of print] Spanish.

August 2011 | OTSC® clipping for closure of gastrocutaneous fistula after surgery for peptic ulcer

Dr. G. Kouklakis and colleagues from the University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Greece, describe a case of gastrocutaneous fistula after surgical treatment for a perforated gastric ulcer. By means of OTSC® clip placement the fistula was successfully closed. Therapeutic success was verified at the 2nd day and 6th week after the application of the clip. The authors judge endoscopic application of the OTSC® device was safe and effective for the treatment of a gastrocutaneous fistula.

Endoscopic treatment of a gastrocutaneous fistula using the over-the-scope-clip system: a case report.
Kouklakis G, Zezos P, Liratzopoulos N, Gatopoulou A, Oikonomou A, Pitiakoudis M, Efremidou E, Simopoulos C. Diagn Ther Endosc. 2011;2011:384143. [Epub May 29]

August 2011 | Endoscopic Full Thickness Resection with OTSC® as a spin-off from NOTES research for the therapeutic gastroenterologist

The research in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has brought significant advances in flexible endoscopy. In a recent overview in Minerva Gastroenterologica e Diabetologica RR Watson and CC Thompson analyse NOTES research and indicate candidate NOTES spin-off procedures. Among them is Endoscopic Full Thickness Resection of GI lesions with subsequent full thickness closure of the organ wall with an OTSC® clip by Ovesco Endoscopy.

Preclinical research at Ovesco includes combined mechanisms for full thickness resection of polyps, adenoma or other suitable lesions, and a Technical Report on the prototype of a dedicated Full Thickness Resection Device (FTRD) has been recently published by MO Schurr et al. in Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies.

NOTES spin-off for the therapeutic gastroenterologist: natural orifice surgery
RR Watson, CC Thompson
Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica
2011 Jun;57(2):177-91

Endoluminal full-thickness resection of GI lesions: A new device and technique
MO Schurr, F Baur, CN Ho, G Anhöck, T Kratt, T Gottwald
Minimally Invasive Therapy. 2011;20:189-92

July 2011 | Ovesco and Endotherapeutics Pty Ltd in Beecroft, Australia, enter into agreement of distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Australia

Ovesco and Endotherapeutics Pty Ltd in Beecroft, Australia, a leading distributor of medical products, enter into agreement on the distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Australia by Endotherapeutics.

See "Contact us"

July 2011 | Ovesco welcomes Barraca Acher Argentina SRL, Buenos Aires, as distributor of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Argentina

Ovesco is pleased to have contracted Barraca Acher Argentina SRL, Buenos Aires, a leading Argentine distributor of medical products for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Argentina.

See "Contact us"

July 2011 | Benefit of the OTSC® clipping device in the treatment of intestinal bleeding and intestinal leakage

Recently JG Albert et al. published the results of their experience with the OTSC® System for the treatment of intestinal bleeding and closure of GI leaks in a series of 19 consecutive patients (12 leaks, 7 hemorrhages). All bleeding cases had unsuccessfully undergone conventional endoscopic treatment and were therefore included. The primary success rate then was 100% with 3/7 patients requiring further treatment afterwards. The overall success rate regarding leaks was 66% (ranging from closure of stomach perforation due to necrotising pancreatitis to gastro-cutaneous fistulas and postoperative leaks). The follow-up time ranged from 6 to 68 weeks.

Benefit of a clipping device in use in intestinal bleeding and intestinal leakage
Albert JG, Friedrich-Rust M, Woeste G,
Strey C, Bechstein WO, Zeuzem S, Sarrazin C.
Gastrointest Endosc. 2011 May 23.
[Epub ahead of print]

July 2011 | Endotechnology, Cairo, and Ovesco enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Egypt by Endotechnology

As a leading distributor of medical products for the Egyptian medical device market, Endotechnology will be the exclusive distributor of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Egypt.

See "Contact us"

June 2011 | Ovesco supports hand-on course on endoscopic organ closure at D-NOTES conference, June 23-25, 2011 in Kiel, Germany

The D-NOTES conference 2011 takes place under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Anette Fritscher-Ravens in Kiel, Germany.

Ovesco Endoscopy sees NOTES as an important driver of innovation in flexible endoscopy. Thus we are happy to support this year’s hands-on course on endoscopic organ closure as a sponsor.

www.d-notes2011.uni-kiel.de

Ovesco is presenting the OTSC® product line at the industry exhibition of the XXIInd Congress of the Southwest German Society of Gastroenterology which is held in Tuebingen, Germany, under the presidency of Prof. Dr. A. Königsrainer.

Please visit us at our booth No. 9.

In view of further publications on research conducted with the OTSC® clip, Ovesco publishes OTSC® update 5.1.

The newsletter is now available for download:

OTSC® update 5.1 | research & clinical trials
(pdf, A4 format)

OTSC® update 5.1 | research & clinical trials
(pdf, letter format)

"New technologies in colorectal surgery" is the title of the 2nd Biennial Meeting of the E.C.T.A. – Eurasian Colorectal Technologies Association – which is held in Torino under the presidency of Mario Morino.
Ovesco supports the hands-on course titled Flexible endoscopy for colorectal surgery complications.

Ovesco is also presenting the OTSC® product line at the industry exhibition.

Please visit us at our booth No. 10.

At the 53rd Annual Meeting of the Hungarian Society of Gastroenterology (4 – 7 June 2011 in Tihany) Dr. János Sümegi from the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Hospital in Miskolc, Hungary, reported about unusual clinical cases successfully treated with Ovesco's OTSC® clip. The cases included the closure of an esophageal fistula due to suture line failure after esophagojejunostomy and the management of gastric hemorrhage from a Dieulafoy ulcer.

In Hungary the OTSC® system is distributed by

Endo Plus Service KFT.
Egressy u. 248
1140 Budapest
www.endoservice.hu

June 2011 | Cost advantages for OTSC® treatment of gut fistula compared to surgical alternative

Referring to our news on the case report of April 2011 we are glad to let you know that the paper is now available as FREE ACCESS article under

https://www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/kooperation/62/1306409671283#fg

Endoscopic treatment of gastro-intestinal fistulas using an over-the-scope clip (OTSC) device:
Case series from a tertiary referral center
Manta R, Manno M, Bertani H, Barbera C,
Pigò F, Mirante V, Longinotti E, Bassotti G, Conigliaro R
Endoscopy. 2011 Jun;43(6):545-8
(Epub 2011 Mar 15)

May 2011 | Dispomed Promet, Zagreb, and Ovesco enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Croatia by Dispomed Promet

As a leading distributor of medical products for the Croatian medical device market, Dispomed Promet d.o.o. will be the exclusive distributor of Ovesco’s OTSC® products in Croatia.

See "Contact us"

May 2011 | Case report: closure of broncho-esophageal fistula with OTSC®

In the April issue of the journal Gastro-intestinal Endoscopy A Rebelo and colleagues, Alto Ave Hospital, Guimaraes, Portugal, present a case report with closure of spontaneous esophageo-bronchial fistula in a lung cancer patient, after radio-chemo-therapy. Closure of the fistula was feasible by means of OTSC clip application and additional placement of a self-expandable covered stent. Besides partial occlusion of the fistula orifice the OTSC clip also worked as an anchoring mechanism for the stent to avoid migration.
Until one month after there were no signs of fistula re-opening. The patient died of the underlying pulmonary tumor.

Complex endoscopic resolution of a large bronchoesophageal fistula
Rebelo A, Moutinho-Ribeiro P, Cotter J
Gastrointest Endosc 2011 Apr;73(4):833-4 (Epub 2010 Nov 9)

May 2011 | Ovesco is exhibitor at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting in Chicago, USA, 7–10 May 2011

Ovesco is attending the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting in Chicago.

We are sponsoring various training sessions with the OTSC® system and also host a key opinion leader (KOL) dinner.

Please visit us at our booth No. 740.

The 128th Congress of the German Society of Surgery (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chirurgie) is held at the ICM München under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Axel Haverich.
Ovesco presents the whole range of the
OTSC® System at the industry exhibition.

Please visit us at our booth No. 104.

Ovesco is proud to be part of an international expedition to the Top of the World. Two MDs from Tübingen who have affiliations with the company are set to climb the peak.

Please find pictures under the link below:

Mt Everest expedition on its way

April 2011 | Post-surgical gastro-intestinal fistulas treated with OTSC®

In the March issue of the journal Endoscopy
R. Manta et al. report about a case series of 12 consecutive patients treated with OTSC for closure of post-surgical gastrointestinal fistula in a tertiary referral center (S. Agostino Estense Hospital, Modena, Italy).
Fistula closure with OTSC clipping was successful in 11 out of 12 cases. Healing was confirmed by radiographic control or endoscopy. No device-related complication occurred.
The authors conclude that OTSC clipping is an effective and technically simple technique for the closure of wall defects.

Endoscopic treatment of gastro-intestinal fistulas using an over-the-scope clip (OTSC) device: Case series from a tertiary referral center
Manta R, Manno M, Bertani H, Barbera C,
Pigò F, Mirante V, Longinotti E, Bassotti G, Conigliaro R
Endoscopy 2011 Mar 15 (Epub ahead of print)

April 2011 | Ovesco Endoscopy USA Update

Ovesco Endoscopy USA attended the California Pacific Medical Center – Inter-ventional Endoscopy New Frontiers 2011 live case session on March 25-26 where the OTSC system was highlighted.

Additionally, Ovesco was at the Winthrop University Live Endoscopy Course 2011 on April 8 in New York and OTSC was a featured technology in a gastric fistula case.

We will be attending the Digestive Diseases Week (DDW) meeting in Chicago the first week of May where we are sponsoring various training sessions with the OTSC system.
We will also host a key opinion leader (KOL) dinner.

Additionally, we have taken orders from 7 institutions to date with 14 more centers in the process of training or processing orders and vendor approval. We have as additional prospects over 50 centers lined up that have expressed interest in the OTSC system.

We have secure business at some of the leading institutions in the United States such as Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston, Lenox Hill in New York, California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, Virginia Mason in Seattle, Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, Winthrop University in New York, and John Hopkins in Baltimore.

2011 will be a great year for our company
so stay tuned for more updates in the future as we build our business in the USA.

Geoffrey Yates
President Ovesco Endoscopy USA Inc.

April 2011 | OTSC® at SAGES Learning Center in San Antonio, Texas

At this year's SAGES Learning Center OTSC® was again applied in a set of educational classes where attendees can gain knowledge and practice skills relevant to minimally invasive surgery. Excerpt from the program:

1. Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES™)
Coordinator: Kai Matthes, M.D., Ph.D.

Objectives:
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
• Perform Translumenal access of the peritoneal cavity by using a transgastric, transcolonic or transvaginal approach using flexible endoscopes with or without laparoscopic assistance
• Perform NOTES™ appendectomy, cholecystectomy, distal pancreatectomy, nephrectomy, liver lobe resection, hysterectomy, oophorectomy
• Perform a secure closure of the Translumenal access port using various techniques such as t-tags, clips or sophisticated closure devices
• Review the limitation of currently available standard endoscopic devices and the advantage of additional laparoscopic ports for visualization and retraction using a hybrid-NOTES™ approach.

For further information, please contact:
Ovesco Endoscopy USA, Campbell, CA

April 2011 | Ovesco announces market approval of the OTSC® System for the Japanese market

The OTSC® System has been cleared by the PDMA and is now available for clinical use in Japan.
The OTSC® (Over-The-Scope-Clip) is an innovative endoscopic clipping system and is Ovesco’s core product platform. The OTSC® System is Ovesco’s initial product offering for the treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and for endoscopic digestive organ wall closure. Century Medical Inc., Tokyo, will market the OTSC® System and other Ovesco products available to gastroenterologists, flexible endoscopists and surgeons in Japan.

March 2011 | The Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC) for the treatment of gastro-intestinal bleeding, perforations, and fistulas

In the latest issue of Surgical Endoscopy Andreas Kirschniak et al. report of a series of 50 patients that had been treated with the OTSC system for hemostasis (n = 27) in the colon and the upper GI tract, closure of esophageal, gastric, and colonic perforations (n = 11) as well as closure of fistulas (n = 8) and for preoperative marking (n = 4).

The primary treatment was reported successful in all cases. In more detail, there were two secondary bleedings that required endoscopic re-intervention, and the permanent closure of fistulas could not be achieved in all cases. The authors conclude that the OTSC system is effective and safe for complicated bleeding and closure of fresh perforations of the gastrointestinal tract.

The Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC) for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding, perforations, and fistulas
Kirschniak A, Subotova N, Zieker D, Königsrainer A, Kratt T
Surg Endosc 2011. Mar 18
(Epub ahead of print)

March 2011 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG welcome Intermedica as new partner for distribution of our products in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Ovesco is happy to announce that we have contracted Intermedica, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, a leading distributor of medical products, to market and distribute Ovesco‘s OTSC® products and the Traction Polypectomy Snare in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

See "Contact us"

March 2011 | First pharyngeal placement of OTSC® reported at FISMAD conference, Torino, Italy

F. Iacopini, A. Scozzarro and colleagues reported the emergency use of an OTSC clip in a patient after collar stabbing injury in suicidal intent at the 17th National Congress of the Italian Society for Digestive Disease (FISMAD), Torino, Italy, March 3-9, 2011.

After self-inflicted stabbing injury of the neck an elderly female patient with a history of severe depression was admitted to the
S. Giuseppe Hospital, Albano Lazio, Rome, Italy. Endoscopy revealed a 12-mm cut of the left lateral wall of the hypophayrnx. The lesion was endoscopically closed by means of an OTSC clip. 3 days after the procedure normal contrast swallow with gastrografin demonstrated normal liquid passage, a CT-scan showing no mediastinal emphysema or fluid collection. The patient had some discomfort with pharyngeal foreign body feeling. After 5 weeks the clip detached and was swallowed by the patient without complications. The further course was uneventful.

www.fismad2011.it

March 2011 | Educational multimedia CD available

Ovesco Endoscopy is now offering a multimedia CD covering the use of the
OTSC® system for educational purposes.
The CD contains detailed demonstrations of OTSC® products and also clinical case examples.

German, Swiss and US customers can receive the CD directly from Ovesco, for other countries please refer to your local sales representative.

March 2011 | OTSC® System prominently represented at the
41st Congress of the DGE-BV,
17–19 March 2011 in Munich, Germany

The 41st Congress of the German Society for Endoscopy and Imaging Procedures (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoskopie und Bildgebende Verfahren, DGE-BV) is held at The Westin Grand München Arabellapark under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Hubertus Feussner.

Ovesco is present at the industry exhibition, booth number 205, level 2.

March 2011 | Ovesco and FMH Endoscopy BV in Veenendaal sign contract for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco's OTSC® products in The Netherlands

FMH Endoscopy BV in PG Veenendaal, The Netherlands, and Ovesco Endoscopy AG have signed a contract for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco's OTSC® products in The Netherlands.

See "Contact us"

March 2011|JSC Medikamentu tinklas and Ovesco enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of OTSC® products in Lithuania and Latvia

Ovesco is pleased to announce the beginning of contractual relationship with JSC Medikamentu tinklas, Vilnius, Lithuania, for the distribution of OTSC® products and the Traction Polypectomy Snare in Lithuania and Latvia. JSC Medikamentu tinklas is a leading distributor of medical products in Lithuania and Latvia and Ovesco is looking forward to a successful cooperation with the new partner.

See "Contact us"

March 2011 | OTSC® comparable to surgical suture for the closure of colonic perforations in a standardized porcine model

RP Voermans et al. report of an animal series of ex vivo colonic perforations that were treated with several methods, surgical suture being considered the gold standard.

Mean colotomy leak pressure (mm Hg) as primary outcome was comparable in surgical suture, flexible staplers, and OTSC®.

Comparison of endoscopic closure modalities for standardized colonic perforations in a porcine colon model Voermans RP, Vergouwe F, Breedveld P, Fockens P, van Berge Henegouwen MI Endoscopy. 2011 March; 43(3):217-22.
Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Further reading:
www.pubmed/21365515

March 2011 | 3rd Course on Endoscopy in Gastrointestinal Oncology in Rome – update on OTSC® research

The course on Endoscopy in Gastrointestinal Oncology, directed by CJ Gostout (USA) and
M Conio (Italy) will take place in Rome, Italy, on March 11 – 12, 2011.
As part of the course, M Conio will also give an update on the application of the OTSC clip in the treatment of perforations, leaks and fistulae.

Click here to see the programme (pdf):
3rd Course on Endoscopy in Gastrointestinal Oncology

March 2011 | OTSC® System sucessfully administered in full wall resection for early colon cancer

Dr. Martin Fähndrich and Dr. Marcel Sandmann of the Department of Gastroenterology, Klinikum Dortmund, Germany for the fourth time successfuly used the OTSC® System in a full wall resection for early colon cancer.

The tumor was secured within the resection cap of the system, the clip then released, and the target tissue eventually resected safely. The procedure was broadcasted by Germany's largest public broadcasting company WDR, Cologne. Audience ratings indicated almost 1 million viewers of the transmission.

The video is available in the internet: www.wdr.de/mediathek

February 2011 | OTSC® update 4 | research & clinical trials – more reports on successful use

OTSC® update 4 includes more reports on successful application of OTSC®.

Click here to download the update:
OTSC® update 4 | research & clinical trials

February 2011 | EURO-NOTES working group report: safe closure with OTSC®

The 4th EURO-NOTES Meeting, Rome (September 2010) was also the venue for the official working groups of EURO-NOTES. The report of the working group meeting was recently published in the journal Endoscopy. With regard to closure of transmural access lesions in NOTES the report states that several studies mentioned safe access and closure with new devices such as anchor systems or Ovesco’s large scale clip (OTSC®).

Natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in Europe: summary of the working group reports of the Euro-NOTES meeting 2010
Meining A, Feussner H, Swain P, Yang GZ, Lehmann K, Zorron R, Meisner S, Ponsky J, Martiny H, Reddy N, Armengol-Miro JR, Fockens P, Fingerhut A, Costamagna G
Endoscopy 2011; 43: 140-3

February 2011 | Advance notice: OTSC® System prominently represented at 41st Congress of the DGE-BV, 17–19 March 2011 in Munich, Germany

Ovesco is present at the industry exhibition, booth number 205, level 2.

For details see news of March 2011.

February 2011 | Ovesco presents latest product update at 13th Düsseldorf International Endoscopy Symposium,
4 – 5 February 2011

Ovesco Endoscopy AG is proud to be sponsor of the 13th Düsseldorf International Endoscopy Symposium held at the Maritim Airport Hotel in Düsseldorf, Germany, and seizes the opportunity to present the latest product update at the exhibition.
Also, among several presentations and demonstrations that might be of particular interest to our customers Ovesco would like to specifically point out the following lectures:

J. D. Waye, New York:
Mucosal neoplasms: endoscopic or surgical resection? (4 February, 11:00 am)
N. Marcon, Toronto:
Strictures, fistulae and abscesses: endoscopic management (4 February, 11:15 am)
J. Hochberger, Hildesheim, Germany:
Approach to procedure-related bleeding and perforation (4 February, 5:15 pm)

Please visit us at the exhibition,
booth 018.

Click here to see the programme:
www.endo-duesseldorf.com

January 2011 | Successful treatment of duodenal fistula after gastrectomy with the OTSC® clip

Dr. R. Bini and colleagues, SG Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy, report about the successful closure of a duodenal fistula with Ovesco’s OTSC clip. The fistula arose in an elderly patient who was treated with emergency gastrectomy for severe peptic ulcer bleeding. The postoperative fistula was associated to sepsis, malnutrition and hydro-electrolyte disorders and did not respond to surgical and medical treatment attempts. The fistula was then closed endoscopically by means of an OTSC clip.

Endoscopic Treatment of Post-gastrectomy Duodenal Fistula With an Over-the-Scope Clip
Bini R, Coppola F, Recchia S, Fusca M, Gaia S, Leli R
Surg Innov. 2011 Jan 18.
[Epub ahead of print]

January 2011 | Ovesco announces training partnership with Endosim LCC, USA

Ovesco Endoscopy AG and its US subsidiary, Ovesco Endoscopy USA, Inc. based in Campbell, CA. announce the formalization of an agreement with Endosim, LLC to conduct specialized physician and hospital staff training utilizing the OTSC® (Over-The-Scope-Clip) and other commercially available therapeutic devices.

Announcement of training partnership with Endosim LCC, USA ( pdf)

January 2011 | Closure of rectovesical fistula by means of OTSC® and cyano-acrylate reported

Anastomotic fistula after colorectal surgery is not infrequent and can happen in up to 10 % of cases. Also rectovesical fistula can result and is cause of significant morbidity and discomfort. Temporary diverting ileostomy for 2–3 months is a common surgical treatment.

Dr. Benedetto Mangiavillano, Dept. of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, University of Milan, Italy and colleagues report about the closure of a rectovesical fistula in a patient after laparoscopic sigmoid resection for adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid. A two-step approach was used in which the 6-mm fistula orifice was first reduced by an OTSC® clip, and a small residual opening was subsequently closed with cyano-acrylate injection in a second procedure. The patient was followed for approx. 10 weeks when CT showed the fistula completely closed. The authors conclude that OTSC® clipping with possible additional cyano-acrylate can be effective in the treatment of anastomotic leakage and fistula and should be considered in such cases before the patient is referred to surgery.

Endoscopic sealing of a rectovesical fistula with a combination of an over the scope clip and cyano-acrylate injection
Mangiavillano B, Pisani A, Viaggi P, Arena M, Opocher E, Mangano M, Santoro T, Masci E
J Gastrointest Oncol 2010; 1: 122-4

December 2010 | US launch of Ovesco's OTSC® System at 34th Annual New York Course of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Ovesco takes the opportunity to set up the launch of its OTSC® System on the US market at the occasion of the New York Course of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
This renowned annual event is jointly sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Wednesday through Saturday
December 15 – 18, 2010

Venue:
New York Marriott Marquis Hotel 1535 Broadway, New York, NY 10036

Please visit us at the exhibition.

Click here to see the programme:
www.nysge.org/pdf/

December 2010 | "Sparing the surgeon": OTSC® for gastrointestinal perforation

The Gastroenterology Department of the University of Zurich, Switzerland (Dr. L. Seebach, Prof. Dr. P. Bauerfeind, Dr. C. Gubler) reports about 7 patients treated with OTSC for gastrointestinal perforation. 

Causes for the intervention were colonic perforation (n=3), gastric perforation (n=1) and anastomotic leakage after surgery (n=3).  All patients were considered candidates for surgery and OTSC clipping was used as an alternative to surgery. 
In all but 1 patient closure was demonstrated.
In 4 of the 7 patients no surgery was required and OTSC clipping was sufficient.  In 1 additional case a laparoscopy was performed to release free air from the abdomen but closure of the perforation had been achieved. 
In conclusion, the author’s judge is the OTSC is a very valuable method for closing GI perforations.

"Sparing the surgeon": clinical experience with over-the-scope clips for gastrointestinal perforation
Seebach L, Bauerfeind P, Gubler C
Endoscopy 2010; 42:1108-11

Click here to see the publication data:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

December 2010 | Ovesco announces clearance of the OTSC® system for the US market

Press release | Clearance of OTSC® system for US market (pdf)

December 2010 | OTSC® System launched in South Africa and New Zealand and featured in oral presentation at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology (NZSG)

After signing distribution contracts with First Medical Ltd, South Africa, and Obex Ltd, New Zealand, Ovesco supported both partners in launching the OTSC® System in both countries. We experienced tremendous positive feedback during and after numerous workshops and presentations in various cities. Dr David Rowbotham, Clinical Director of Gastroenterology at Auckland City Hospital, gave a presenation on "Advances in Endoscopy" where he, among other innovations, introduced OTSC® finishing his talk with "I cannot wait to use it".

December 2010 | Ovesco selects Philotech OÜ, Tallinn, as distributors of the OTSC products in Estonia

Philotech OÜ as a leading distributor of medical products for the Estonian market is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Estonia.

See "Contact us"

November 2010 | Successful use of the OTSC® Clip in Revisional Endoscopy Against Weight Gain After Bariatric Gastric Bypass Surgery

Ahead of print Obesity Surgery published an article by Alex Heylen et al., St.-Ursula Hospital, Kuringen, Belgium, where they report on 94 obese patients who had undergone Fobi pouch gastric bypass, and because of a dilation of the gastro-jejunostomy suffered a marked but unintended weight gain.
An endoscopic over-the-scope clip was used to narrow the pouch-outlet. The OTSC® application was safe and efficient to reduce the pouch-outlet in all cases. Best clinical results were obtained by narrowing the gastro-jejunostomy by placing two clips at opposite sites, hence reducing the outlet of more than 80%. Preferably, the clip approximated the whole thickness of the wall to avoid further dilatation of the anastomosis. Between surgery and OTSC® application the mean BMI dropped from 45.8 (+/-3.6) to 32.8 (+/-1.9). 3 months (mean 118 days, +/-46 days) after OTSC® application the mean BMI was 29.7 (+/-1.8). At the second follow-up about 1 year (mean 352 days, +/-66 days) after OTSC® application the mean BMI was 27.4 (+/-3.8).
The authors conclude: "The OTSC® clip for revisional endoscopy after gastric bypass is reliable and effective in treating weight gain due to a dilated pouch-outlet with favorable short- and midterm results."

The OTSC®-Clip in Revisional Endoscopy Against Weight Gain After Bariatric Gastric Bypass Surgery
Heylen AM, Jacobs A, Lybeer M, Proßt RL
Obesity Surgery 2010 Sept 3
(Epub ahead of print)

Click here to see the publication data:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

November 2010 | New clinical report about successful chronic fistula closure with OTSC® clips

In the October issue of the journal Gastro-intestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Daniel von Renteln et al., Dept. of Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, University of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, report about the successful closure of a posttraumatic esophagopulmonary fistula and a chronic gastrocutaneous fistula.
Closure was not successful in 2 other cases, due to substantial scarring at the fistula site. The mean procedure time was 54 minutes (range 24-93 minutes), there were no procedure-related complications.

The authors conclude: “The OTSC seems to be a feasible device to close chronic fistulae of the GI tract. It can achieve leakproof, full-thickness closure of transmural defects. Nevertheless, in circumstances of severe fibrosis and scarring, complete incorporation of the defect into the applicator cap and successful OTSC application might not be possible.”

Endoscopic closure of GI fistulae by using an over-the-scope clip
von Renteln D, Denzer UW, Schachschal G, Anders M, Groth S, Rösch T
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2010 Oct 16
(Epub ahead of print)

Click here to see the publication data:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

November 2010 | Ovesco publishes OTSC® update 3 on research conducted with its OTSC® clip

In view of a number of recent publications on research conducted with the OTSC® clip Ovesco is glad to publish OTSC® update 3 only shortly after update 2. The compre-hensive newsletter is now available for download:

OTSC® update 3 | research & clinical trials

October 2010 | Obex Medical Ltd, Auckland, and Ovesco Endoscopy AG enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of OTSC® products in New Zealand

Ovesco is pleased about contractual relationship with its first distribution partner on the New Zealand market: Obex Medical Ltd is a leading distributor of medical products and is appointed by Ovesco for the distribution of the OTSC® system in New Zealand.

See "Contact us"

October 2010 | OTSC® autumn/winter training courses in Spain

Ovesco's Spanish distributor, Izasa Distribuciones Técnicas S.A. in Barcelona is hosting a number of training courses on OTSC clipping based on the growing clinical demand in Spain.

There will be courses organised in Madrid, Barcelona and in Leon, before or during the Spanish Endoscopy congress, Nov. 26-27, 2010.

Interested Spanish endoscopists may contact
José Ignacio García Aparício under:
www.izasa.es

October 2010 | Ovesco exihibits at UEGW Barcelona 2010 and takes part in the ESGE Hands-on Training Centre | October 23–27, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain

Ovesco attends UEGW Barcelona 2010, the 18th United European Gastroenterology Week, landmark meeting of the UEGF, United European Gastroenterology Federation and displays its OTSC product line at the industrial exhibition.

Congress venue:
Centre Convencions Internacional Barcelona (CCIB), Rambla Prim 1-17, 08019 Barcelona

Please visit us at booth number 43.

Further information: www.uegw10.uegf.org

Ovesco will also take part in the ESGE Learning Area (European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) with daily practical hands-on demonstrations of the OTSC system for the endoscopic treatment of hemorrhage and closure of acute and chronic organ wall lesions (Mon 25-Wed 27):

MODERN ENDOSCOPIC CLIP TREATMENT FOR BLEEDING, FISTULAE AND PERFORATIONS

The venue is:
ESGE Open Training Centre, Hall 117 (first upstairs level of the congress centre,
at the very beginning of the long corridor opposite the escalators).

Ovesco's presentation times are:
Monday, Oct 25
10.00 – 11.30 and 14.00 – 15.30
Tuesday, Oct 26
10.00 – 11.30 and 14.00 – 15.30
Wednesday, Oct 27
10.00 – 11.30

October 2010 | 2nd Global OTSC® Sales Meeting strengthens bonds with old and new worldwide partners, confirms superiority of OTSC® in complicated GI emergencies

Following the commercial launch of its OTSC system in a number of European markets in 2009, Ovesco Endoscopy AG ran the second Global Sales Meeting in Hinterzarten, Germany, on October 7 and 8, 2010. More than twenty of Ovesco’s international distribution partners attended the meeting.

Lectures were given on state-of-the-art use, clinical indications and experiences with OTSC clipping by clinical experts:

Dr. Thomas Kratt, Tübingen, Germany, reported some 4 years and dozens of cases of personal experience collected with OTSC in various flexible endoscopic procedures. Dr. Kratt can be seen as the most experienced user of all early adopters.

Prof. Dr. Peter Bauerfeind, Zürich, Switzerland, reported about his personal experience with OTSC in the treatment of a broad variety of underlying diseases, especially wall perforations. Moreover, he strongly supported Kratt's utterly positive rating of the system regarding the treatment of GI bleedings.

Dr. Martin Fähndrich, Dortmund, Germany, shared his exciting results of OTSC in the treatment of esophageal complications after surgery.

The rapid increase of OTSC users in Germany and many international markets confirmed the strong clinical interest in OTSC as an advanced therapeutic device for flexible endoscopy.

Ovesco Group Portrait – in front of the Parkhotel Adler in Hinterzarten

October 2010 | Ovesco OTSC® clip: Reliable full-thickness organ closure in experimental transgastric cholecyst-ectomy, mean time required for closure is only 7 min.

A recent experimental study by RP Voermans et al., Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, reports about transgastric cholecystectomy and organ closure with Ovesco's OTSC clip. The study was carried out in the porcine animal model (n=16). A hybrid-NOTES technique was used, adding two 2-mm trocars and one umbilical laparoscope. The survival follow-up time was 10 days. Main outcome parameters included technical procedural success and organ closure, uncompli-cated survival and histology-confirmed full-thickness closure of the gastric access site. Transgastric organ closure was successful in all cases in a mean time of 7 min (SD 3 min). Necropsy demonstrated absence of infectious complications. Histology revealed full-thickness healing in all cases (95 % CI: 81-100 %). The authors conclude: "Use of OTSC for gastro-tomy closure is feasible, reliable and results in histology-proven full-thickness closure in survival porcine experiments."

Hybrid NOTES transgastric cholecystectomy with reliable gastric closure: an animal survival study
Voermans RP, van Berge Henegouwen MI, Bemelman WA, Fockens P
Surgical Endoscopy 2010 Aug 19
(Epub ahead of print)

October 2010 | September issue of Endoscopy : The treatment of eso-phageal perforations with the OTSC® clip – a valid alternative to stenting

The September issue of the journal Endoscopy discusses the use of the OTSC clip for the closure of esophageal perforations. In the editorial, Dr. P. Eisendrath, Brussels, Belgium, states that the use of larger clips, such as the OTSC clip, could reduce the number of clips that must be placed and the dedicated forceps (remark: OTSC Twin Grasper®) may help to overcome the difficulties in approximating the two edges of the leak.

Esophageal leaks: extending our toolbox?
Eisendrath P
Endoscopy 2010;42:753-4

An initial case series (n=2) on endoscopic closure of postoperative esophageal leaks with the OTSC clip is presented by Dr. J. Pohl et al., Wiesbaden, Germany. The authors conclude that OTSC clipping is an effective endoscopic treatment of intrathoracic esophageal leaks and might be considered as a valid alternative to stent treatment in selected cases.

Endoscopic closure of postoperative esophageal leaks with a novel over-the-scope clip system
Pohl J, Borgulya M, Lorenz D, Ell C
Endoscopy 2010;42:757-9

September 2010 | OTSC® for closure of recto-vesical fistula after radical prostatectomy

There is growing positive clinical experience worldwide with the use of Ovesco’s OTSC clip in the treatment of chronic fistula.
Dr. M. Cavina and coauthors, Reggio Emilia, Italy, report about the successful treatment of a chronic recto-vesical fistula in a male patient, subsequent to prostatectomy. The size of the chronic fistula was 4 mm and it was effectively occluded by means of a single OTSC 12/6/a clip. The case was reported in the Italian Journal of Digestive Endoscopy.

Utilizzo della clip Ovesco nel trattamento di una fistola retto-vescicale
Maurizio Cavina, Romano Sassatelli,
Francesco Azzolini, Lorenzo Camellini, Francesco Decembrino, Veronica Iori,
Giuliana Sereni, Cristiana Tioli,
Giuliano Bedogni
Servizio di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestive, Arcispedale 'Santa Maria Nuova'
di Reggio Emilia
Giorn Ital End Dig 2010;33:147-8

September 2010 | The OTSC® System receives the medical device license for commercialization in Canada

Ovesco announces market clearance of its OTSC System and OTSC Reloader for Canada. Health Canada has granted medical device license in September 2010.
Our partner for distribution of the OTSC product family in Canada is AMT Endoscopy, Kitchener, Ontario.

See "Contact us" & www.amtendoscopy.com

September 2010 | OTSC® clip enables secure and fast gastric closure after transgastric experimental oophorectomy

In a recent experimental study, V. Tumulescu et al., Bucharest, Romania, studied the use of OTSC® and other closure methods for managing the gastric access site after transgastric oophorectomy. The procedure was carried out in the porcine animal model (n=10). In 5 animals a hybrid-NOTES technique with supplemental laparoscopic access was used, the other 5 animals had complete transgastric access. Gastric closure with OTSC® was successful and took approx. 10 minutes, whilst closure with endoloops and endoclips took approx. 100 min. The authors conclude that transgastric oophorectomy is feasible, including secure access site closure.

An experimental model of transgastric ooforectomy using a porcine model [Article in Romanian]
Tomulescu V, Gheorghe C, Piţigoi D, Kosa A, Ciocarlan M, Pietrăreanu D, Turcu F,
Copăescu C, Droc G, Popescu H, Grigorescu B, Stănciulea O, Herlea V, Popescu I
Chirurgia (Bucur) 2010 May-Jun; 105(3):331-7

September 2010 | Ovesco exhibits at Viszeralmedizin 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany, September 15–18 | Gastroenterology and Visceral Surgery

Ovesco exhibits at the joint congress of the German Society for Gastrointestinal and Metabolic Disease (DGVS – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verdauungs- und Stoff-wechselkrankheiten mit Sektion Endoskopie) and the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allgemein- und Viszeral-chirurgie).

For further information, see
www.viszeralmedizin.com

September 2010 | Report EURO-NOTES 2010: Ovesco’s OTSC® system positioned as state-of-the-art closure device

Rome, Italy, September 9-11. The 4th EURO-NOTES Joint Workshop of ESGE and EAES took place under the presidency of Prof. Guido Costamagna, Catholic University of Rome.

Researchers and clinicians from different countries presented their experience on organ closure using Ovesco’s OTSC® clip.
Dr. M. Abu-Suboh Abadia from Barcelona, Spain, presented experimental data on using OTSC® for the closure of experimentally created perforations. New aspects were presented by Dr. E. Rieder, Portland, OR, USA who demonstrated a new wedge resection technique using OTSC clips for closure prior to snare resection of the tissue. Dr. T. Verlaan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, presented the data of the recently completed multi-centric single-arm CLIPPER trial which demonstrate that OTSC® is an effective treatment for the closure of acute perforations in the digestive tract. In his state-of-the-art lecture, Prof. Paul Fockens, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, covered the topic of acute perforations and their treatment with OTSC®, partly referencing the CLIPPER trial that was completed under his coordination. He stated that the closure of acute perforations is now satisfactorily possible in expert hands.

September 2010 | Ovesco exhibits at EURO-NOTES 2010 in Rome, Italy, September 9 - 11, 2010

Ovesco Endoscopy AG presents its OTSC® system at EURO-NOTES 2010, the 4th Joint European NOTES Workshop being held in Rome under the presidency of Prof. Guido Costamagna. Please visit our booth.

For further information, see
www.euro-notes.org

September 2010 | Ovesco publishes second OTSC® update on research with its OTSC® clip

Ovesco is glad to publish the second update on more research conducted with the OTSC® clip. The new comprehensive newsletter is now available for download:

OTSC® update | research & clinical trials

August 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG welcomes new partners in South Africa and China

Ovesco is happy to announce that we have signed up with Scientech Beijing Co. Ltd. and First Medical Company to market and distribute Ovesco's products in China and Southafrica.
"We would like to give a warm welcome to our great new partners. Patients in both countries will certainly benefit from the introduction of our products", said Thomas Gottwald of the executive board of Ovesco.

While Ovesco products are still in the process of registration with SFDA in China, they will be available within the next few weeks in South Africa.

See "Contact us"

August 2010 | Roberto Zepeda and Ovesco Endoscopy AG enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of OTSC® products in Chile

Ovesco is pleased about contractual relationship with its first distribution partner on the South American market: Roberto Zepeda is a leading distributor of medical products and is appointed by Ovesco for the distribution of the OTSC® system in Chile.

See "Contact us"

August 2010 | UpViser Oy and Ovesco Endoscopy AG sign contract for the distribution of OTSC® products in Finland

Ovesco and UpViser Oy, Vantaa, have signed a contract for the exclusive distribution of OTSC® products in Finland and are looking forward to a successful cooperation.

See "Contact us"

August 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy receives funding within the German National Program on Technology Innovation (ZIM-Programm)

Ovesco has been awarded a grant for developing innovative new endoscopic devices on the basis of its signature OTSC technology. This includes devices for endoscopic full-thickness resection of lesions and for proctology indications. The grant is part of the German National Program on funding innovation in small and medium enterprises of the Federal Ministry of Economy and Technology (Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand – ZIM des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie).

August 2010 | State-of-the-art report by J Hochberger et al. on techniques for ESD refers to OTSC clip

The leading German speaking endoscopy journal “Endoskopie heute”, Official Journal of the German Society for Endoscopy (DGE-BV), reports about the OTSC clip. Juergen Hochberger, MD, PhD, Hildesheim, Germany and coauthors describe the state-of-the-art in technical aspects and equipment for Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD). Perforations of the esophageal, gastric or colonic wall are not rare in ESD and happen in 6 – 8 percent of the cases, according to clinical experience. For the immediate closure of perforations the OTSC clip is a promising solution, the authors state.

Technische Aspekte bei der endoskopischen Submukosa-Dissektion (ESD)
Technical Aspects at the Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD)
Hochberger J, Dammer S, Menke D, Kruse E, Köhler P, Bürrig KF
Endoskopie heute 2010; 23: 24–33

August 2010 | Feasibility of endoscopic full-thickness resection using the OTSC system

In the June issue of the journal Gastro-intestinal Endoscopy D. von Renteln, MD and colleagues report about an experimental feasibility trial on full-thickness resection of the colon. They compared different modalities of applying the Ovesco OTSC clip in conjunction with full-thickness resection of the colonic wall, using the grasp-and-snare technique. Depending on application modalities burst pressure tightness of 76.6 mm Hg (range 35–120; SD, 31) was reached, demonstrating the possibility of secure wall closure after full- thickness resection (FTR).

Endoscopic full-thickness resection and defect closure in the colon
von Renteln D, Schmidt A, Vassiliou MC, Rudolph HU, Caca K
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2010 Jun; 71(7):1267-73

July 2010 | State Secretary of Health Annette Widmann-Mauz, MdB, visits Ovesco to learn more about the OTSC system and pipeline

Tuebingen, Germany, July 16th 2010. Annette Widmann-Mauz, MdB, State Secretary in the German Federal Ministry of Health, visits Ovesco Endoscopy AG to become acquainted with Ovesco's OTSC system, its innovative pipeline and the development of the company.

During the visit, Prof. Dr. Marc O. Schurr and Prof. Dr. Thomas Gottwald of the executive board, demonstrated the latest research results and products in the field of wall closure, and diagnosis and treatment of bleeding in the GI tract. Widmann-Mauz expressed her upmost interest in ovesco and pledged her full support in the months and years to come.

The newspaper Reutlinger Generalanzeiger reported in its issue of July 21st 2010

Photo of State Secretary of Health Annette Widmann-Mauz during her visit at Ovesco's headquarters (© Christoph Ströhle)

July 2010 | Successful management of GI perforations with the Ovesco OTSC clip

A multicentric study performed at 2 Italian endoscopy centers (General Hospital, San Remo and Humanitas Hospital, Milan) has investigated the use of the OTSC clip for closure in 10 patients. Indications for digestive organ wall closure included acute perforations, fistula and anastomotic leakage. The location of the leak was gastric (n=2), duodenal (n=2) and colonic (n=6). The leak diameter ranged from 7 to 20 mm.

After closure with the OTSC clip, patients received follow-up endoscopy 3 months after the intervention. The technical success was 8 out of 10 cases. None of the cases with initial technical success required additional treatment.

The authors of the study conclude that the OTSC system is a useful device for the management of larger GI leaks in a variety of clinical indications.

Endoscopic management of GI perforations with a new over-the-scope clip device
Parodi A, Repici A, Pedroni A, Blanchi S,
Conio M
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2010 (in press)

July 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG incorporates United States subsidiary

The new US operation of Ovesco USA will make the OTSC® system and other Ovesco products available to gastroenterologists, flexible endoscopists and surgeons in the United States.

Geoffrey Yates, President of Ovesco Endoscopy USA said: “It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to join such an innovative company as Ovesco Endoscopy AG.  We will strive to develop and provide physicians with innovations and solutions to a variety of procedural indications in endoscopy.  Additionally, a cornerstone of our strategy is our commitment to offer our customers superior clinical training and support.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” stated Marc Schurr, Member of the Executive Board of Ovesco Endoscopy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ovesco Endoscopy USA. “The entry into the US market has been a strategic goal for us and we are delighted about having attracted Geoffrey Yates to manage our US business.”

Press release | Ovesco Endoscopy USA

July 2010 | OTSC system presented for use in hemostasis and closure in ESD complications at Austrian ESD Expert Training

The Ovesco OTSC system is, among other indications, successfully used in treating complications after endoscopic submucosal dissection / ESD.

An international faculty teaches the use of the OTSC system at the 2nd ESD Expert Training Workshop in Salzburg, Austria,
July 7-9 2010.

Course directors are
Prof. H. Messmann, Augsburg, Germany, and Prof. T. Ponchon, Lyon, France.

For further information:
SALK | Salzburger Universitätsklinikum

June 2010 | OTSC system successfully presented at 19th International Course on Therapeutic Endoscopy at São Paulo University Medical School, June 28-29, 2010

During the 19th International Course on Therapeutic Endoscopy at São Paulo University Medical School, held under the presidency of Prof. Paulo Sakai, MD, the OTSC system was used by Prof. Dr. Juergen Pohl from Wiesbaden, Germany, to perform the closure of a gastric fistula. The procedure was transmitted via satellite in real time to 14 countries of Latin America. This was the first time the OTSC system was presented in Latin America.

June 2010 | Ovesco products featured and successfully tested at this year’s Advanced Course in Interventional GI Endoscopy Techniques at the IRCAD institute, Strasbourg, June 28-29, 2010

A world class faculty of specialists in the field of interventional endoscopy gathered in Strasbourg earlier in June. In hands-on sessions in a porcine model the faculty and attending physicians and surgeons from Europe and overseas tested the OTSC system mainly in perforations of stomach and colon. The feed back was very positive: e.g. “Wonderful device!” (Prof. N.Yahagi, Japan, member of the faculty). Other first-time users among the attendees  found the system easy to use, intuitive, and very efficient and expressed their willing to use the device from now on.

June 2010 | Successful OTSC closure of esophago-bronchial fistula reported at national gastroenterology congress in Portugal

Dr. P. Moutinho-Ribeiro and colleagues, Centro Hospitalar do Alto Ave – Guimarães, Portugal, report about the successful closure of a 15-mm esophago-bronchial fistula in an esophageal cancer patient following chemoradiation therapy.

By using the OTSC Anchor to pull the fistula orifice to the tip of the OTSC cap and application of an OTSC clip, the fistula was successfully closed. Supplementary stent placement was done to secure the result. The case was presented at XXXth National Congress of the Portugese Society of Gastroenterology in Vilamoura, June 9-12, 2010.

June 2010 | Ovesco presents at EndoSwiss 2010-Live, International Course on Interventional Endoscopy in Zurich, Switzerland, June 26, 2010

A world class faculty of specialists in the field of flexible endoscopy discusses the impact of new technologies on the treatment of diseases of the GI-tract. Live demos elucidate the practical aspects and implications.

The programme includes the following session:

How I treat a perforation
J. Bergman & T. Gotoda & N. Yahagi
Ovesco clip and hemostatic spray –
new promising endoscopic tools? N.N.
Case discussions
State of the Art:
EMR , ESD or surgery? – Where is the bottom line? Practical approach for a non-Japanese endoscopist
Nib Soehendra

Please visit our booth as well.

For further information, see
www.endoswiss.ch

June 2010 | Tuebingen University reports experience in 60 consecutive patients treated with OTSC

Bruchsal, Germany, June 11, 2010. At the XXI Congress of the Southwest German Society of Gastroenterology Thomas Kratt, MD, Surgical Endoscopy, Tuebingen University Hospital, Germany, reported about a case series of 60 patients treated with OTSC for various indications. 37 patients were treated for stopping gastrointestinal hemorrhage, 11 for closure of perforation, 8 for closure of fistulae and 4 for the marking of lesions. In all 60 cases technical success, defined as ability to place the OTSC at the desired location, was achieved. In the 37 cases of GI bleeding 2 relapse bleedings were seen. In all 11 cases of GI perforation therapeutic success, defined as absence of failure/recurrence was achieved. In the 8 fistula patients 3 recurrences were found.
The authors conclude that based on their experience OTSC is best applied in the following indications:

Emergency:
• Severe peptic ulcer bleeding
• Iatrogenic perforations
• (Spontaneous perforations)
• Hemorrhoidal post-surgical hemorrhage

Elective:
• Anastomotic failure
• Fistula
• Anastomotic correction
• NOTES

Das Over-The-Scope-Clip System (OTSC): Erfahrungen in der klinischen Anwendung bei 60 Patienten
Kratt T, Stüker D, Küper M, v. Feilitzsch M, Königsrainer A, Kirschniak A

There were two more reports on successful application of Ovesco's OTSC system:

Ulkus-Arrosionsblutung der A. gastroduodenalis – Vermeidung des Notfalleingriffs durch ein neuartiges Clip-System – zwei Fallberichte
Kratt T, Stüker D, Brücher B, Heininger A, Miller S, Königsrainer A

Aus dem Labor in die Klinik:
Die transgastrisch-flexible NOTES-Laparoskopie.
Kratt T, Kramer M, v. Feilitzsch M, Strese C, Küper M, Schenk M, Greiner T, Lange J, Kirschniak A, Minkley L, Schröppel K, v. Weyhern CH, Königsrainer A

June 2010 | Ovesco exhibits at the XXIst Congress of the Southwest German Society of Gastroenterology in Bruchsal, Germany, from June 11-12, 2010

For further information, see
www.sw-gastro.de

June 2010 | Ovesco’s OTSC Anchor for supporting gastric mucosal resection

Endoscopic mucosal resection using a grasp-and-snare technique
von Renteln D, Schmidt A, Vassiliou MC, Rudolph HU, Caca K
Endoscopy 2010 Jun;42(6):475-80

June 2010 | Clinical NOTES experience with OTSC presented at German
D-NOTES meeting in Mannheim

At the annual meeting of the German NOTES working group, D-NOTES, in Mannheim, Germany, June 3-5 2010, two research groups reported about their clinical experience with the OTSC clip for gastric closure:

The chairman of the meeting, PD Dr. Georg Kähler, Mannheim University Hospital, is using the OTSC clip for closure after transgastric appendectomy, Dr. Thomas Kratt, Tuebingen University Hospital for closure after transgastric diagnostic laparoscopy. Both centers have enrolled first patients into their respective studies. OTSC was shown to be effective and safe in closing gastrotomy after transgastric NOTES.

June 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy receives innovation grant by the State Government of Baden-Württemberg

For the second time Ovesco Endoscopy has won an innovation grant by the Department of Commerce of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

Ovesco will use the grant for new product development in the field of derivatives of its OTSC product line.

May 2010 | Central Endoscopy Department (Zentrale Interdisziplinäre Endoskopie) of Mannheim University Hospital starts clinical trial on transgastric NOTES appendectomy

The Central Endoscopy Department at Mannheim University Hospital, Germany (Director: Georg Kähler, MD, PhD) has started enrolling patients into an investigator initiated trial on transgastric NOTES appendectomy. Ovesco's OTSC clip is used for closure of the gastric access site after completion of the procedure.

The Central Endoscopy Department in Mannheim is among the leading international institutions in interventional endoscopy and NOTES research and is hosting the
2010 D-NOTES meeting, June 3–5, Mannheim, Germany.

For further information on D-NOTES 2010, see
www.d-notes.umm.de

May 2010 | Study demonstrates that Ovesco's Traction Polypectomy Snare is 31% more efficient in tissue acquisition than conventional snares

Ovesco’s Traction Polypectomy Snare is a newly designed, serrated snare for endoscopic tissue acquisition procedures such as polypectomy, endoscopic mucosa resection (EMR) or similar techniques. Its specific design reduces slipping of the snare upon closure and loosing tissue intended for removal. At the same time the Traction Snare has excellent maneuverability and repositioning properties, making its handling simple and efficient.

A recent experimental trial by RL Prosst and FE Baur, Stuttgart, Germany has shown that the Traction Snare removes 31% more tissue than a conventional snare. Comparing the weight of colonic tissue removed with one snare deployment was 454 mg (SD 202) with the Traction Snare vs 347 mg (SD 165) with a conventional snare. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.017).

The authors conclude that the Traction Snare increases the effectiveness of snare resection by avoiding the accidental loss of entrapped tissue. In addition the achievable reduction of sample numbers during piecemeal resection may increase the precision of histo-pathological assessment.

A new serrated snare for improved tissue capture during endoscopic snare resection
Prosst RL, Baur FE
Minimally Invasive Therapy 2010; 19:100-4

May 2010 | OTSC Twin Grasper and OTSC Anchor cleared for clinical use in the USA

Ovesco's tissue management devices have been listed as medical devices in the United States. First clinical applications have started. The OTSC clip is not yet available for regular clinical use in the United States.

May 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy's OTSC system at National Surgery Congress of Romania in Cluj, May 3–6, 2010

Ovesco's OTSC system is presented at the National Surgery Congress (NCS) on the Romanian Society of Surgery in Cluj, Romania.

Alberto Arezzo, MD, PhD, gave a hands-on course on NOTES with a focus on safe gastric closure by means of the OTSC clip. Further, his lecture on endoscopic handling of surgical complications, focussing on OTSC and Endosponge as novel technologies was very much appreciated.

May 2010 | DDW 2010 – OTSC for endoscopic closure of acute perforations of the gastrointestinal tract using the Over-the-Scope Clip: A prospective multicenter human trial (CLIPPER-trial)

In his presentation "Endoscopic closure of acute perforations of the gastrointestinal tract using the Over-the-Scope Clip: A prospective multicenter human trial (CLIPPER-trial)" at DDW 2010, New Orleans, May 4, Dr. Rogier Voermans, Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands, gave an update on intermediate results of this prospective multicenter cohort study conducted at 10 tertiary-care medical centers in Europe. The aim of the trial is to evaluate safety and reliability of the endoscopic closure of acute perforations of the human gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, duodenum, colon) using Ovesco’s OTSC system.

The primary endpoint was successful closure, defined as macroscopic adequate closure and no leakage on water soluble contrast X-ray within 24 hours without additional interventions. He reported on 24 of 36 planned consecutive patients in the participating centers. Primary closure could be achieved in 22 of 24 patients. One patient suffered other complications before the clip could be applied, and one patient failed adequate placement of the clip. Only one patient of those 22 patients where the system could be administered suffered delayed leakage and had to be treated surgically. The trial is ongoing. Final results will be published as available.

May 2010 | DDW 2010 – OTSC for control of upper-GI bleeding

In his keynote presentation "New techniques to treat UGI bleeding" at DDW 2010, New Orleans, May 4, Dr. Gregory Haber, Lenox Hill Hospital New York City introduced novel approaches to stop hemorrhage. Amongst others he presented Ovesco's OTSC clip (nicknamed "Bear Claw").

DDW Daily News of Wednesday, May 5, cite: "The OTSC Bear Claw is a closure device that offers stronger clips than are delivered through the working channel of the flexible scope...". "This is a very important advance to us", Dr Haber said of the Bear Claw.
Source: DDW Daily News, Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the official newspaper of the Digestive Disease Week 2010.

May 2010 | Ovesco Endoscopy's
OTSC system at DDW in New Orleans: clinical paper presentations, hands-on workshop and industry exhibition

The OTSC system is presented at the Digestive Disease Week, DDW, New Orleans, May 1-5, 2010.
Besides scientific paper presentations about clinical experience and data by different authors, the ASGE Hands-On Workshop
"GI Emergencies: Sutures, Closures and Hemostasis" by Juergen Hochberger, MD PhD, will demonstrate the OTSC system in practical use.

For further information, see
www.ddw2010.com

Ovesco Endoscopy is exhibiting its OTSC system and ancillary instrumentation at
booth number 83.

The OTSC system is not cleared for clinical use by FDA in the United States.

April 2010 | OTSC system presented at the 2010 Shanghai International Symposium on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Progress & 3rd Sino-Japan Summit on ESD at the Shanghai University Hospital:

"Novel technique for the treatment of bleeding and tissue defects after endoscopical interventions in early cancer of the GI tract."

More than 600 prominent physicians and surgeons from both China and Japan followed this two-day symposium.
In a live demo a gastric tumor was removed endoscopically which left a 2-3 cm defect in the gastric wall. The closure of the gastric wall was performed with two OTSC clips. The patient was discharged the day after and presented without problems on follow-up.

April 2010 | Ovesco's OTSC system launched in Malaysia during the 2010 Kuala Lumpur Workshop on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Progress in Digestive Endoscopy at the Putrajaya Hospital

Numerous health care professionals follow this year's invitation to learn about the new Ovesco product. In addition to several state of the art lectures, a training course gives everybody the opportunity to acquire first-hand experience in an animal model.

April 2010 | Ovesco exhibits at the 127th Congress of the German Society of Surgery in Berlin from April 20−23, 2010

Ovesco Endoscopy AG presents its OTSC system at the traditional Congress of the German Society of Surgery being held in Berlin under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Reiner Gradinger.

Please visit our booth number 15E/12.

For further information, see
www.chirurgie2010.de

April 2010 | OTSC system referenced as best gastric closure system in latest review paper

A new review paper by Alberto Arezzo and Mario Morino, Torino, Italy, published in Surgical Endoscopy references Ovesco's OTSC system as safe and efficacious for gastric closure in NOTES.
Compared to other available closure technologies, such as other clips, T-tags or endocopic suture devices, OTSC is evaluated "very good" under the categories "simplicity", "security" and "effectiveness", leading to the highest overall score of all systems.

Endoscopic closure of gastric access in perspective NOTES: an update on techniques and technologies
Arezzo A, Morino M
Surgical Endoscopy 2010 24:2; 298-303
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-009-0593-1

April 2010 | Ovesco's OTSC presented at 12th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery hosted by SAGES & CAGS, Washington DC, USA, April 14-17, 2010

Ovesco Endoscopy exhibits its OTSC clipping system at the 12th World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery, hosted by SAGES and CAGS, Washington DC, USA, April 14 – 17 2010.

Please visit us at booth 235.

The use of the OTSC system for digestive organ closure is demonstrated by Kai Matthes, MD, PhD, Boston, MA and available for
hands-on training at the 2010 SAGES Learning Center.
Course title: Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES™).
Hours of operation:
Thursday, April 15, 2010 | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm Friday, April 16, 2010 | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm Saturday, April 17, 2010 | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

Note: The OTSC system is not cleared for clinical human use in the USA and Canada.

April 2010 | New publication on the use of OTSC in bariatric patients

Dr. Federico Iacopini published a case report on the use of OTSC to treat complications of gastric banding in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Ovesco's OTSC clip was used to close full thickness stomach erosions resulting from long-term gastric band implantation. Two patients were successfully treated.

Over-the-scope clip closure of two chronic fistulas after gastric band penetration
Federico Iacopini, Nicola Di Lorenzo, Fabrizio Altorio, Marc-Oliver Schurr, Agostino Scozzarro
World J Gastroenterol 2010 April 7; 16(13):1665-9

www.wjgnet.com

March 2010 | Ovesco publishes newsletter on research and clinical studies with its OTSC clip

Research conducted with the Ovesco OTSC clip has been compiled into a comprehensive newsletter which is available for download:

OTSC® update | research & clinical trials

March 2010 | Ovesco supports lunch symposium on OTSC clip and is sponsor of the 40th Congress of the German Society for Endoscopy (DGE-BV) in Hanover, March 11-13, 2010

The 40th Congress of the German Society
for Endoscopy (DGE-BV) is held in Hanover under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hochberger, Hildesheim.
Ovesco supports the lunch symposium on clinical indications and experiences with the OTSC clip on Friday, March 12, 2010,
13:00-14:00 h, Saal 1A.

Ovesco is also exhibitor and sponsor of the conference.

Please visit us at booth number 30.

For further information, see
www.dgebv.de (pdf)

March 2010 | Ovesco presents at the 8th World Congress on TRAUMA, SHOCK, INFLAMMATION AND SEPSIS – TSIS 2010 March 9 – 13, 2010, Munich, Germany: “Novel Technical Solutions for Prevention and Control of Surgical Complications” in the 2010 TSIS special conference on obesity and bariatric surgery.

The 8th TSIS congress is being held in Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Eugen Faist. Ovesco is also exhibitor at the conference.

Please visit us at booth number 2.

For further information, see
www.tsis2010.org

March 2010 | Clinical experience with OTSC system in bariatric patients highlighted at FISMAD, Verona, Italy, March 6-9, 2010

At the FISMAD conference – Federazione Italiana Società Malattie dell'Apparato Digerente – several Italian endoscopists presented their clinical experience with Ovesco' OTSC system. Among others, Prof. Agostino Scozzarro showed his experience using OTSC in the treatment of bariatric surgery complications.
The product presentation by Ovesco's Italian distribution partner Euromedical S.r.l. received significant attention.

For further information, see
www.fismad2010.org (pdf)

www.euromedicalonline.it

March 2010 | Tuebingen University starts clinical NOTES trial on diagnostic laparoscopy. Successful closure of gastric NOTES access

The first patient was recruited in the Transgastric NOTES Laparoscopy Trial. Through an incision in the anterior gastric wall which was dilated with a 15-mm balloon, the abdomen was explored and staging was performed in a patient suffering from an infrequent type of a lymphoma.
The closure was performed with an OTSC clip 12-6 gc. The gastrotomy was immediately gas tight. Postoperative follow-up was without any complications.

March 2010 | Italian gastroentero-logists report successful closure of tracheo-esophageal fistula using Ovesco's OTSC clips

In the recent issue of the journal Endoscopy, Dr. M. Traina and colleagues, Palermo, Italy, report about the closure of a chronic tracheo-esophageal fistula emerging in a patient after long-term ventilation.
The fistula was located 20 cm from the mouth. After closure with an OTSC clip the clinical condition of the patient improved and healing of the fistula was seen at follow-up endo-
scopy, 2 and 4 weeks later. No complications were reported.

New endoscopic over-the-scope clip system for closure of a chronic tracheo-esophageal fistula
M Traina, G Curcio, I Tarantino, S Soresi, L Barresi, P Vitulo, B Gridelli
IsMeTT, UPMC, Palermo, Italy
Endoscopy 2010; 42:E1-E2
[UCTN - Unusual cases and technical notes]

February 2010 | Ovesco and ANSr SDN BHD in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, sign contract for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco's OTSC products in Malaysia and Singapore

ANSr SDN BHD in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, and Ovesco, have signed a contract for the exclusive distribution of Ovesco's OTSC products in Malaysia and Singapore.

See "Contact us"

February 2010 | Clinical users of OTSC device ("bear claw") cited in leading German press

The use of the OTSC clip was presented in general public German media.
The group of Prof. Dr. Michael Heike and
Dr. Martin Faendrich, Klinikum Dortmund, explain the advantages of OTSC as a full thickness GI closure device for the patient, notably on a clinical case in which a large polyp was removed from the bowel. Due to comorbidity the patient was no candidate for surgery. Thus ESD was the only feasible option for tumor removal.
However, due to the size of the lesion, bowel perforation had to be encountered. The perforation was however securely closed by means of an OTSC clip, nicknamed as "bear claw" by clinical users.

"Bärenklaue" im Magen
Ulrike Böhm-Heffels, Ruhrnachrichten,
14 January 2010

Heilende Schnitte ganz ohne Skalpell
Gerald Nill, Dortmunder Rundschau,
14 January 2010

February 2010 | Researchers report secure closure of duodenal perforations using the OTSC clip in a randomized controlled experimental trial.

In the recent issue of the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Daniel von Renteln and colleagues report about a series of 24 animals (domestic pig) in which duodenal perforations had been intentionally created. All cases were randomized to undergo either surgical repair by hand sewing or endoscopic closure by means of the OTSC clip.
At necropsy, all OTSC and surgical closures demonstrated complete sealing of duodenotomy sites. Mean time for OTSC closure was 5 minutes (range, 3-8 min; SD 2). Leak testing under pressure demonstrated a mean burst pressure of 166 mm Hg (range 80-260; SD 65) for OTSC closures and 143 mm Hg (range 30-300, SD 83) for surgical sutures.

This shows that OTSC closure of duodenal full thickness wall lesions can result in higher pressure resistance than hand suturing, although the difference was not significant. There were no complications related to the OTSC clip reported.

Endoscopic closure of duodenal perforations by using an over-the-scope clip: a randomized, controlled porcine study.
D von Renteln, HU Rudolph, A Schmidt, MC Vassiliou, K Caca
Ludwigsburg and Heidelberg, Germany;
Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2010; 71:1; 131-8

February 2010 | Century Medical Inc., Tokyo, and Ovesco enter into a contractual relationship on the distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC products in Japan

Century Medical Inc., Tokyo, is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Japan.

See "Contact us"

February 2010 | Résumé to the 12th Düsseldorf International Endoscopy Symposium, 5-6 February 2010

This year’s 12. Internationales Endoskopie Symposium again enjoyed an impressive acceptance by a national and international audience as well as an excellent faculty of some of the finest experts in the field.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Seewald from Zürich in his oral presentation (“Neue Produkte zur endoskopischen Therapie von Perforationen und Fisteln/New devices for endoscopic treatment of perforations and fistulas”) very much focussed on the OTSC system. It was basically cited to be the answer to many problems in GI endoscopy. This was followed by a lively discussion on challenging indications for the system like esophago-tracheal fistulas.

Ovesco’s booth again was able to attract a huge crowd. The feedback on the OTSC system plus the accessories including the latest product “traction snare” was overwhelming.

February 2010 | Ovesco attends
the 12th Düsseldorf International Endoscopy Symposium,
5-6 February 2010

Ovesco exhibits at the 12th International Symposium: Diagnostic and therapeutic Endoscopy in Duesseldorf, Germany.

With regard to Ovesco’s OTSC system a number of presentations and live demon-strations might be of interest for you, e.g.:

Friday, 5 February 2010
1st MINI SYMPOSIUM  
Nonpolypoid colorectal lesions

M. Bourke, Sydney
Wie können Effizienz und Sicherheit der endoskopischen Resektion verbessert werden?
How to improve efficiency and safety of endoscopic resection?

P Fockens, SA Giday, RH Hawes, S Seewald
NOTES: Bedeutung für die Gastroenterologie
NOTES: Relevancy for gastroenterology

Saturday, 5 February 2010 
3rd MINI-SYMPOSIUM 
Prevention and therapy of early-stage  neoplasms in the upper GIT: Open questions

R Rösch, Hamburg
Submukosale Tumoren: „wait and see“, EUS-FNA oder Resektion?
Submucosal tumours: „wait and see“,  EUS-FNA or resection?

Saturday, 5 February 2010
4th MINI SYMPOSIUM 
New technologies

S Seewald, Zurich
Neue Produkte zur endoskopischen Therapie von Perforationen und Fisteln
New devices for endoscopic treatment of perforations and fistulas.

CONGRESS LOCATION
Maritim Hotel Düsseldorf | Airport City
Maritim-Platz 1
40474 Düsseldorf, Germany
Internet: www.maritim.de

Please visit us at booth number 32.

January 2010 | Ovesco is sponsor at industry exhibition and is invited to participate in special workshop and live demonstrations during symposium at Jena University, 22–23 January 2010

Ovesco Endoscopy AG exhibits at the "Jenaer Gastroenterologie Tage" and is invited to participate in a workshop focussing on endoscopic haemostasis. Further, the application of Ovesco's OTSC system is shown in live demonstrations from the Interdisciplinary Endoscopy Department.

January 2010 | Korean endoscopists make reference to the OTSC clip as a device in ESD for gastric cancer

Prof. Won Young Cho et al. from the Dept. of Gastroenterology (Director: Prof. Ju Young Cho) at the College of Medicine, Sooncheonhyang University, Korea, refer to the OTSC clip as an endoscopic device for treating postinterventional bleeding or organ wall lesions in the chapter on Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD) of the recently published book "Endoscopic Treatment of Gastric Cancer". Prof. Won Young Cho and his colleagues are leading users of Ovesco's OTSC in South Korea.

Endoscopic Treatment of Gastric Cancer
Won Young Cho, Tae Hee Lee, Yoon Seon Park, Ju Young Cho
Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (ESD),
pp 16-52;
Jin Publishing Co. Ltd. Seoul, Korea, 2009
ISBN 978-89-90698-48-3

January 2010 | OTSC system shown to be efficient for gastrotomy closure in a survival experimental model of varicocelectomy

C. Rolanda et al., Braga, Portugal, report about new experimental data on OTSC for gastric closure following transgastric testicular vessel ligation (varicocelectomy model).

Bilateral testicular vessel ligation was achieved through a transgastric access. The gastrotomy was closed with the largest version of OTSC system (12 mm). The gastrotomy size was up to 18 mm. The use of 2 OTSC clips showed better results than 1 clip in this large gastrotomy model, although the difference between 1 and 2 clips was statistically not significant.

See full paper:
In vivo assessment of gastrotomy closure with over-the-scope clips in an experimental model for varico-celectomy (with video)

Rolanda C, Lima E, Silva D, Moreira I, Pêgo JM, Macedo G, Correia-Pinto J.
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2009. 70:6;
1137-45

December 2009 | OTSC presented for esophageal closure in experimental live demo at the 33rd Annual New York Course, jointly sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 16-19 Dec. 2009

Prof. Dr. Juergen Hochberger, Hildesheim, Germany, showed the use of the Ovesco OTSC system at the 33rd Annual New York Course.

In an experimental laboratory demo, transmitted live from Lenox Hill Hospital, he closed a 8-10 mm full thickness esophageal perforation successfully by means of one OTSC clip.

December 2009 | Ovesco launches Traction Polypectomy Snare at endo-update 2009, 11 Dec. 2009 in Augsburg, Germany

In addition to the OTSC system which is specially announced in the program as one of the novelties to be demonstrated, Ovesco will for the first time present the new Traction Polypectomy Snare destined to improve grasping of polyps.

Click here to see more about the
Traction Polypectomy Snare.

Venue:
Kongresshalle Augsburg (not Messezentrum, as previously announced)
Gögginger Straße 10
86159 Augsburg

Please visit our booth in the Foyer of the Augsburg Convention Center.

December 2009 | Ovesco attends the 8th Gastro Forum München which highlights interdisciplinary gastroenterological and surgical standards. 4 and 5 Dec. 2009, Munich, Germany

Ovesco exhibits at the 8th Gastro Forum München, traditionally held on the first weekend in December. This event offers one and a half days of live demos from endoscopic and surgical departments, hands-on courses as well as presentations and interactive discussions.

Venue:
Auditorium Maximum Werner von Siemens
TU München
Arcisstraße 21
80333 München

Please visit us at booth number 17.

November 2009 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG exihibits at Gastro 2009, UEGW/WCOG, the jointly organised landmark meeting of UEGF, WGO, OMED and BSG, London, November 21-25, 2009

Ovesco attends Gastro 2009, UEGW/WCOG and displays its OTSC product line at the industrial exhibition.
Please visit us at booth number 5.

Moreover, OTSC is focussed in a poster and in an oral presentation:
OVER-THE-SCOPE-CLIP (OTSC) CLOSURE OF TWO CHRONIC FISTULAS AFTER GASTRIC BAND PENETRATION is the title of a poster presentation of F. Iacopini et al. A 45-year-old woman presented with a band erosion and penetration through two large tears at the posterior wall of the gastric fundus. A sub-phrenic abscess was demonstrated by computed tomography (CT-scan). Surgery was performed but external drainage of enteric material persisted for 2 weeks. Both fistulas were successfully closed with OTSCs (one in combination with a fully-covered esophageal SEMS) and remained successfully closed. Both OTSCs were spontaneously lost after 4 weeks. The authors conclude that if prospective large comparative studies with fully-covered stents and OTSC will confirm this initial observation, the OTSC may be the least invasive, easiest, and safest endoscopic method to close chronic small fistulas or leaks.

In an oral presentation D. v. Renteln et al. will report data of a RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING ENDOSCOPIC CLIP TECHNIQUES FOR NOTES GASTROTOMY CLOSURE. In 20 pigs an 18-mm gastrostomy was created using PEG technique and a wire guided 18-mm dilatation balloon. Animals were randomly assigned to gastrotomy closure using endoclips (n=10, Resolution clips, Boston Scientific) or over-the- scope- clips (n=10, OTSC, Ovesco). The specially designed tissue approximation grasper (Twin Grasper, Ovesco) was used to achieve optimal tissue approximation prior to placement of OTSCs for closure. Laparoscopic leak tests were carried out after each gastrotomy closure. Necropsies were performed 10-14 days post procedure. The authors conclude that NOTES gastrotomy closure using standard endoclips is associated with significant leaks and the risk of intra-abdominal infection whereas the OTSC system for endoscopic gastrotomy closure reduces the risk of leakage and intraabdominal infectious complications.

Ovesco will also take part in the Teaching Theatre ESGE/OMED Learning Area with daily practical hands-on demonstrations of the OTSC system for the endoscopic treatment of hemorrhage and closure of acute and chronic organ wall lesions (Mon 23 − Wed 25).

The venue is:
ESGE/OMED Training Theatre, Hall N 13

HANDS-ON TRAINING WITH EXPERTS

Modern Endoscopic Clip Treatment for Bleeding, Fistulae and Perforations

• Monday, Nov 23
9 −10 and 13−14 (Dr. D. von Renteln)
• Tuesday, Nov 24
9 −10 and 13−14 (Prof. Dr. M. Schurr,
Prof. Dr. T. Gottwald, Dr. D. von Renteln)
• Wednesday, Nov 25
9 −10 and 13−14 (Dr. D. von Renteln)

November 2009 | Randomized controlled trial demonstrates advantages of OTSC vs standard endoscopic clips in experimental gastrotomy closure

A new comparative study published by D. von Renteln et al. in the journal Endoscopy investigated closure safety after NOTES gastrotomy in the porcine model (n = 20) using either conventional endoclips or the Ovesco OTSC clip.
No leaks were observed after OTSC closure vs 3 minor and 1 major leak after endoclip closure. The time required for the gastrotomy closure procedure was 8.5 +/- 9.1 minutes with OTSC and 31.5 +/- 24.2 minutes with endoclips. After necropsy 2 animals in the endoclip group showed signs of peritonitis. 1 animal in that group had to be sacrificed before finishing the study due to severe peritonitis.
The authors conclude that standard endoclips have an increased risk of failure in the closure of NOTES gastrotomy.

Randomized controlled trial comparing endoscopic clips and over-the-scope clips for closure of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery gastrotomies

D von Renteln (1), MC Vassiliou (1,2), RI Rothstein (1).
(1) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
(2) Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Endoscopy 2009. Published online ahead of print

November 2009 | Experimental study confirms pressure tightness of gastric closure with OTSC compared to the gold standard of hand-suturing

R. Voermans et al. published comparative data on gastric closure after NOTES in the ex vivo experimental model. Gastric closure with the OTSC clip was compared to gastric closure by hand-suturing, determined as the gold standard.
Surgical suturing demonstrated pressure tightness of the closure up to a mean leak pressure of 206 mm Hg (SD 59), (n = 15 samples). OTSC closure demonstrated tightness up to a mean pressure of 233 mmHg (SD 47), (11 samples). This was non-inferior to the gold standard (p = 0.003).
The authors conclude that closure of gastric incisions meeting predetermined pressure resistance criteria was attainable and easy with the OTSC system.

Novel over-the-scope-clip system for gastrotomy closure in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): an ex vivo comparison study

RP Voermans (1,2), MI van Berge Henegouwen (2), WA Bemelman (2), Fockens P (1).
(1) Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
(2) Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Endoscopy 2009. Published online ahead of print.

November 2009 | Ovesco present at the EndoClubNord, 6-7 November 2009 in Hamburg, Germany

At this year’s EndoClubNord at the Congress Center Hamburg Ovesco’s OTSC (over the scope clip) system has been presented in a live demo: Prof. Dr. Thomas Rösch (Dept. and Clinic for Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg) endoscopically removed a submucosal tumor in the anterior wall of the stomach.
In a rendez-vous-procedure he was supported by a team of surgeons of the Dept. of Surgery (also UKE) via a single port access. The respective area of the stomach was marked and dissected full wal, first by ESD then by transmural endoscopic cutting of the muscular layer. The stomach was closed through the flexible endoscope with two OTSC gc clips, was reinflated thereafter and proved to be tight. The surgical team then closed the outer of the stomach intra-peritoneally with an endo-TEA- stapler.
Ovesco is currently testing full thickness resections of the GI tract with the approved OTSC system. Smaller lesions already have been closed through the endoscope alone. Yet, the company is currently developing an “all-in-one” system which will allow for safe resection and closure in one procedure. The device is planned for approval and launch later next year.
The new systems will enable healthcare professionals of both specialties to more aggressively diagnose and yet less invasively treat e.g. submucosal tumors of uncertain dignity.

November 2009 | Ovesco Global Sales Meeting 2009 confirms strong market interest in OTSC clip

Following the commercial launch of its OTSC system in a number of European markets in 2009 Ovesco Endoscopy AG ran the first Global Sales Meeting in Murnau, Germany, on October 29 and 30 2009.
Nineteen of Ovesco’s international distribution partners attended the meeting which also included a state of the art educational programme on clinical indications for OTSC clipping by clinical experts:
Prof. Dr. Alberto Arezzo, Torino, Italy, reported about 2 years of multicentric experience collected with OTSC in various flexible endoscopic procedures.
Dr. Alex Heylen, Hasselt, Belgium, reported about his personal experience with OTSC in the treatment of complications after bariatric surgery in a larger patient series.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hochberger, Hildesheim, Germany, gave an state of the art overview about the current trends in advanced flexible endoscopic interventions and the role of OTSC in this field. The rapid growth of OTSC adoptions rate in Germany and many international markets confirmed the strong clinical interest in OTSC as an advanced therapeutic device for flexible endoscopy.

October 2009 | Report about OTSC clip treatment of gastric band complications and hands-on OTSC course at the 21st SMIT Conference, 7-9 October 2009 in Sinaia, Romania

At the 21st Conference of the Society for Medical Innovation & Technology (SMIT) Ovesco’s OTSC clip is presented in various scientific sessions.

Dr. Agostino Scozzarro and colleagues, Rome, Italy, report about the successful closure of chronic fistula related to adjustable gastric band erosion, using OTSC clipping.

The use of OTSC in Natural Orifice Trans-luminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is presented by Prof. Dr. Alberto Arezzo, Torino, Italy, within a hands-on workshop on basic techniques in NOTES. He also shows recent data on transgastric cholecystectomy and secure endoscopic closure of the stomach with the OTSC clip in a surviving porcine model.

Further, he reports about the use of OTSC for the treatment of postsurgical healing problems in bowel anastomosis. He recommends OTSC clipping for suitable cases in his overview presentation on closure of fistula and chronic pelvic abscess after colorectal surgery.

A summarizing overview about global clinical experiences with the OTSC clip is given by Prof. Dr. Marc O. Schurr, Member of the Executive Board of Ovesco Endoscopy AG.

Ovesco also welcomes clinicians at its booth in the industry exhibition.

For further information:
www.smit2009.com

October 2009 | Ovesco and ARTI Medical Solutions, Istanbul, enter into contractual relationship for the distribution of OTSC products in Turkey

ARTI SAGLIK HIZMETLERI KIMYA GIDA VE TELEKOMINIKASYON TIC. LTD. STI. is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Turkey.

See "Contact us"

September 2009 | Reports about the OTSC clip as a closure device at EURO-NOTES workshop, Barcelona, Spain

Leading scientists present their results at the EURO-NOTES workshop, 24–26 Sept. 2009, Barcelona, Spain.

Prof. Dr. P. Fockens, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, explains the technique of OTSC application for NOTES gastric closure and its successful use in the experimental model.

Dr. D. von Renteln and colleagues, Ludwigsburg, Germany, present a randomized controlled trial comparing endoscopic clipping techniques for gastrotomy closure with favourable results of the OTSC clip.

Dr. R. Voermans et al., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, present an ex vivo comparison of current colotomy closure modalities, including OTSC.

Successful clinical cases with OTSC for the closure of gastric fistula after gastric banding are shown by Dr. F. Iacopini et al., Rome, Italy.

September 2009 | Ovesco exhibits at national congress for gastroenterology and visceral surgery - Visceral medicine 2009 - in Hamburg, 30 Sept - 3 Oct 2009

Two national societies hold their common yearly meeting in Hamburg: German Society for Digestive and Metabolic Disease with the Section for Endoscopy (DGVS) and the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV).
Ovesco is participating in the industry exhibition, presenting the OTSC system, highlighting the newly launched clip gc for gastric closure and the OTSC application aids. You may watch live demonstrations of the OTSC system or even try yourself in a phantom build-up.

Please visit us at booth # H.85 at the industrial exhibition.

Click here for more information
about the congress

September 2009 | Ovesco’s OTSC system applied in live demos at 43rd Erlangen Symposium for practical gastroenterology and hepatology, Erlangen University, 18–19 Sept 2009

Future prospects in complication management are a major topic of this meeting (43. Erlanger Tagung für Praktische Gastroenterologie und Hepatologie).

Ovesco’s OTSC system is applied in live demos transmitted from the Department of Gastroenterology and favourably pointed out by Prof. Dr. M. Raithel. Further, Prof. Dr. J. Hochberger emphasizes the significance of the OTSC in view of NOTES.

September 2009 | Ovesco is invited to participate in special haemostasis workshop at Erlangen University:
62. Erlanger Kurs für Endoskopie und Ultraschall, 15–17 Sept 2009

Ovesco is invited to participate in a workshop focussing on haemostasis in endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). Participants are beginners and advanced endoscopists.

September 2009 | Ovesco announces appointment of Prof. Dr. med. Juergen Hochberger as a new member of the Supervisory Board.

Ovesco announces the appointment of Prof. Dr. med. Juergen Hochberger as a new member of the Supervisory Board after Prof. Dr. Thomas Gottwald has assumed responsibility in the Executive Board earlier this year. Currently, Prof. Hochberger is Chairman of the Dept. of Medicine III, Gastroenterology, Interventional Endoscopy, St. Bernward Academic Teaching Hospital in Hildesheim, Germany. Before, among other positions he was Chief Endoscopist of the Medical Dept. I, University of Erlangen. As internationally renowned expert in this field he is a true driver of innovation in the clinical development of interventional endoscopy holding numerous patents and having been granted multiple awards. He is founding member of the interdisciplinary “Initiative Group of NOTES Germany”, board member of several national and international medical societies and Associate Editor of “Gastrointestinal Endoscopy – GIE”.

As President elect he will steer the annual meeting of the German Society of Endoscopy (DGE-BV) in 2010 and the annual meeting of the “Section of Endoscopy of the German Society of Gastroenterology”.

“We are very pleased that we were able to attract such an excellent expert who will certainly add to our innovative spirit and portfolio”, said Frank Ramsberger, chairman of the Supervisory Board. “We enthusiastically welcome this great colleague and highly appreciate his expertise which will certainly make a difference to our company in the years to come”, said Marc Schurr and Thomas Gottwald of the Executive Board.

September 2009 | Ovesco selects Fleetwood Healthcare Ltd as distributors of the OTSC products in Ireland

Fleetwood Healthcare Ltd as a leading distributor of medical products for the Irish market is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Ireland.

See "Contact us"

August 2009 | Ovesco launches OTSC gc, the new OTSC clip version designed for gastric closure.

Ovesco has designed a derivative version of its successful OTSC clip which is a proven device for hollow organ closure in flexible endoscopy. The new version, OTSC gc, will supplement the existing OTSC a and OTSC t versions and is specifically designed for closure of the gastric wall.

OTSC gc has elongated teeth, thus providing an even stronger grip in the gastric wall compared to the standard OTSC t which had already been demonstrated to be an effective, simple to use and fast technique for closing gastrotomy in experimental NOTES.

A new experimental study by Prof. Dr. Alberto Arezzo and colleagues, now published online by the journal Endoscopy, has documented the effectiveness of OTSC gc in gastric closure.

OTSC gc is now commercially available by Ovesco Endoscopy AG.

July 2009 | Press release: Ovesco Endoscopy AG announces the appointment of Prof. Dr. Thomas Gottwald as member of the Executive Board.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Gottwald has been appointed member of the Executive Board of Ovesco Endoscopy AG, effective July 1st 2009. At the same time he resigned as Vice Chairmain of the Supervisory Board of the company. Before joining the Executive Management of Ovesco, Prof. Dr. Gottwald was Global Medical Director of Fresenius Kabi AG and Managing Director of Fresenius Kabi Deutschland GmbH. He also held a number of Executive Management positions with Fresenius. He was President and CEO of Fresenius Biotech GmbH, one of the most successful German Biotech Companies. He is a General and Visceral Surgeon with a strong clinical and scientific track record. He will continue his academic work as a member of the medical faculty of the University of Tuebingen.

Prof. Dr. Marc Schurr stated, we are proud that we have attracted Thomas Gottwald to join me in the Executive Management of Ovesco. With his strong expertise in a broad area of Biotech and Medtech Industries he is the ideal new colleague.

Thomas Gottwald: “I am excited about this new challenge. We will work hard to further successfully expand this great company, based on both, innovative portfolio and entrepreneurial spirit.”

Frank Ramsperger, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board added: “The Supervisory Board was glad to appoint Prof. Dr. Thomas Gottwald as a member of the Executive Board. He will make a tremendous contribution to the further growth of the company.”

For further information please contact:

Prof. Dr. med. Marc O. Schurr
Executive board member
Ovesco Endoscopy AG
Dorfackerstraße 26
72074 Tuebingen / Deutschland
Phone +49 (0) 7071 7704-514
Fax +49 (0) 7071 763574
E-mail: marc.schurr@ovesco.com www.ovesco.com

July 2009 | AMT Vantage Group and Ovesco enter into a contractual relationship on the distribution of Ovesco’s OTSC products in Canada by AMT.

As a leading distributor of medical products for the Canadian Surgical Minimally Invasive Medical Device market, AMT Vantage Group Inc will be the exclusive distributor of Ovesco’s OTSC products in Canada.

See "Contact us"

June 2009 | HU Rudolf is awarded a prize for his study on endoscopic closure of duodenal perforations applying OTSC clips and the OTSC Twin Grasper at the XXth Congress of the South-West German Society of Gastroenterology

A working group of researchers of the Medizinische Klinik I in Ludwigsburg and the University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Mannheim was honoured with a poster award for their presentation of results of an experimental randomised animal study on endoscopic closure of duodenal perforations.

Endoskopischer Verschluss von Duodenalperforationen: Eine randomi-sierte tierexperimentelle Studie

HU Rudolf (2), D von Renteln (1), A Schmidt (1), M Gieselmann (2), T Gutmann (2),
K Caca (1)
(1) Klinikum Ludwigsburg, Medizinische Klinik I (2) Universität Heidelberg, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim

Click here to view the poster.

June 2009 | Dr. Thomas Kratt wins award for his presentation of case reports on endoluminal OTSC treatment of Boerhaave syndrome

At the XXth Congress of the South-West German Society of Gastroenterology in Stuttgart, a poster of a working group from the University Hospital of Tuebingen presenting a case report on endoluminal OTSC-Clip therapy with Ovesco’s OTSC clip in Boerhaave syndrome is awarded a poster prize.

Suffiziente endoskopische Therapie bei Boerhaave-Syndrom

Click here to view the poster.

June 2009 | Ovesco contracts Alves & Cª (Irmãos), Lda, Lisbon, as distributors of Ovesco’s OTSC products in Portugal

Ovesco and Alves & Cª (Irmãos), Lda, have signed a contract for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Portugal by Alves & Cª and are looking forward to a successful cooperation.

See "Contact us"

June 2009 | Ovesco exhibits at two congresses in Mainz and Stuttgart, Germany, 26 - 27 June 2009

6. Forum Gastroenterologie
Gutenberg-Saal, Congress Center Mainz

Organised by
Prof. Dr. M. Jung, Head of the clinic for Internal Medicine, St. Hildegardis Hospital, Mainz
Prof. Dr. P. R. Galle, Director of the I. Med. Clinic and Policlinic, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, and
Prof. Dr. C. Ell, Director of the Dept. of Internal Medicine, HSK Kliniken Wiesbaden.

www.forum-gastroenterologie.de

XX. Kongress der Südwestdeutschen Gesellschaft für Gastroenterologie
Liederhalle, Stuttgart

Information:
Prof. Dr. W. G. Zoller, Director of the Dept. of General Internal Medicine, Katharinenhospital, Stuttgart

Please visit us at booth no. 207, Hegel-Foyer, Ebene 1

www.sw-gastro.de

June 2009 | Diagmed Healthcare Ltd, Thirsk, UK, and Ovesco sign contract for the distribution of OTSC products in Great Britain

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has contracted Diagmed Healthcare Ltd, in Thirsk, UK, as exclusive distributors for the OTSC endoscopic clipping system in the United Kingdom.

See "Contact us"

June 2009 | Experimental study proves effectiveness of the new clip version
OTSC gc for gastric closure in NOTES; EAES congress in Prague, 17 - 20 June 2009

In his oral presentation at the EAES congress in Prague in a session on Sutureless Tissue Approximation, Prof. Dr. Alberto Arezzo from Torino, Italy, reports on successful gastric closure with the new OTSC gc special clip:

Transgastric cholecystectomy and secure endoscopic closure of transgastric approaches in a surviving porcine model.
Hollow organ closure devices and techniques for NOTES

www.congresses.eaes-eur.org

June 2009 | OTSC clips in combination with Twin Grasper and Anchor referenced as a suitable organ closure device.

In a comprehensive review in the Chirurgische Allgemeine Zeitung (CHAZ, 2009,10.5, 292-298), the German NOTES working group
(D-NOTES) resumes all aspects of NOTES in a status report, including an assessment of all current closure techniques. Ovesco’s OTSC Clips are highlighted and very favorably described, especially if applied in combination with the OTSC Anchor and the OTSC Twin Grasper.



June 2009 | OTSC gc, a new special version of the OTSC clip for gastric closure, applied in live demo at D-NOTES 2009 in Munich, 11 - 13 June 2009

Organised by Prof. Dr. H. Feußner and
Prof. Dr. A. Meining, Munich, from the D-NOTES working group.

In a live demo of transgastric access techniques Prof. Dr. Karel Caca from Ludwigsburg and PD Dr. Jörn Bernhardt from Rostock demonstrate the application of Ovesco's new special clip OTSC gc and the OTSC Anchor for gastric closure in NOTES. Prof. Dr. A. Meining also uses the OTSC Twin Grasper for gastric closure.

www.d-notes.de

June 2009 | SC Medical Logistic Partner SRL in Bucharest, is selected by Ovesco to act as exclusive distributor in Romania

As a leading distributor of medical products, SC Medical Logistic Partner SRL will act as exclusive distributor of OTSC products in Romania.

See "Contact us"

May 2009 | Favourable results of experimental studies with Ovesco products presented during Digestive Disease Week 2009 in Chicago, USA,
30 May – 4 June 2009

Researchers present studies on OTSC-based endoscopic closure techniques at DDW 2009:

732. Endoscopic Closure of Duodenal Perforations By Means of An Over the Scope Clip (OTSC): A Randomized Controlled Porcine Study
Daniel von Renteln, Hans U. Rudolph, Arthur R. Schmidt, Maria Gieselmann, Tamara E. Gutmann, Karel Caca

S1399. Overclips As the Best-Performing Second Generation Flexible Endoscopic NOTES®-Closure Technique in a Multioperator Two-Phase Porcine Study
Manuel Perez-Miranda, Ferrán González-Huix, Marisa Goyeneche, Carlos Dolz, Diego Juzgado, Pedro González, Jorge C. Espinós, Francisco Igea, Enrique Vazquez-Sequeiros, Paul Yeaton

S1406. Endoscopic Closure of the Transgastric NOTES® Access By Means of An Over the Scope Clip System (OTSC). A Randomized Controlled Porcine Study
Daniel von Renteln, Arthur R. Schmidt, Hans U. Rudolph, Tamara E. Gutmann, Maria Gieselmann, Karel Caca

M1511. Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection Using a Novel Tissue Anchoring Device
Arthur R. Schmidt, Daniel von Renteln, Karel Caca

April 2009 | The OTSC system is applied as an investigational device in the Learning Center at SAGES 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona, 22 - 25 April 2009 (The Society of American Gastro-
intestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons)

Kai Matthes, MD, PhD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, is coordinator of a course on NOTES. Objective of the course is, among others, to perform a secure closure of the transluminal access port using various techniques such as t-tags, clips or sophisticated closure devices. Ovesco is invited to contribute with the OTSC system.

Further, Richard I. Rothstein, MD, Section Chief, Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Associate Director, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, reports about the OTS Clip and the OTSC TwinGrasper in his presentation: Management of Difficult Endoscopic Scenarios and Compli-
cations in the Flexible Endoscopy Postgraduate Course on 22 April, 2009.

April 2009 | Ovesco exhibits at two important internists' congresses in Wiesbaden, Germany, 18 - 22 April 2009

29. Seminar "Endoskopie des Internisten", Vorsymposium Gastroenterologie, Kurhaus Wiesbaden, 18 - 19 April 2009

ESD:
Endoskopische Submucosa-Dissektion
In a hands-on course Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Allescher, Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Klinikum Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hochberger, St. Bernward Krankenhaus Hildesheim, Innere Medizin III familiarise the participants with the application of the OTS Clip. Further, in a live demo Prof. Allescher and PD Dr. Georg Kähler, Head of the Sektion Endoskopie und Sonographie at the Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Mannheim demonstrate the application of the OTS Clip in the upper GI tract in an endo-trainer (photo).

Click here to view a photo of the session.

For more information see
www.endoskopiedesinternisten.de

115. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin, Rhein-Main-Hallen, 18 - 22 April 2009

This is the national congress of the German Society for Internal Medicine.
On 20 April 2009 Ovesco is invited to parti-
cipate in a training course for advanced endoscopists dealing with the management of endoscopic emergencies:
"Endoskopische Blutstillung und EASIE-Training" | "Endoscopic hemostasis and EASIE training " (EASIE Simulator - Erlanger Ausbildungssimulator für die Interventionelle Endoskopie = Training phantom for interventional endoscopy from Erlangen, Germany)
Chair:
Prof. Dr. E. G. Hahn (Erlangen),
Prof. Dr. M. Raithel (Erlangen)
Prof. Dr. J. Hochberger from Hildesheim is also a member of the training staff - among further instructors from Erlangen.

For more information see www.dgim.de

April 2009 | Tehran Nano Tech in Tehran is selected by Ovesco to act as exclusive distributor of OTSC products in Iran

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has contracted Tehran Nano Tech in Tehran as exclusive distributor of OTSC products in Iran.

See "Contact us"

April 2009 | Results of a new experimental study on transgastric cholecystectomy using OTSC for gastric closure presented at the National Congress of the Italian Society for Digestive Endoscopy - Congresso Nazionale delle Malattie Digestive
28 March - 1 April 2009 in Milan, Italy

Background and aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility of transgastric cholecystectomy and gastric closure without infection of the abdominal cavity or peritonitis.

Transgastric cholecystectomy was successfully performed in eight pigs; OTSC gc clips, a new derivative of the OTSC family and Twin Graspers were used to close the gastric defects. Closure was feasible in all cases, no signs of peritonitis were observed over the follow-up duration of 4 weeks and upon pathology after sacrifice.

This study demonstrated that transgastric choelcystectomy can be successfully performed without inducing peritonitis if safe closure of the gastric access is achieved.

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): Transgastric cholecystectomy in a surviving porcine model

A. Arezzo (1), T. Kratt(2), Mario Morino (1)

(1) Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
(2) Department of Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

Abstract published in:
Abstracts/Digestive and Liver Disease 41S (2009), S1-S167 (S54)

April 2009 | Ovesco and Shani Tal Marketing Ltd, Petach Tikva, sign contract for the distribution of OTSC products in Israel

As a leading distributor of medical products, Shani Tal Marketing Ltd will act as exclusive distributor of OTSC products in Israel.

See "Contact us"

March 2009 | The OTSC® system is present at renowned congress for “Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology“ of the DGE-BV in Munich (Germany) from 18 – 21 March 2009

XI. DGBMT/DVMT/DGE-BV/Fraunhofer SMIT Symposium, 18 March 2009
NOTES: Technologies and applications today and tomorrow.

39th Congress of the German Society for Endoscopy and Imaging Procedures (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoskopie und Bildgebende Verfahren (DGE-BV) in Munich (Germany) from 19 – 21 March 2009
together with

48th Symposium of the Surgical Association for Endoscopy and Sonography (CAES – Chirurgische Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Endoskopie und Sonographie)

Three important events in one, dealing with all aspects of endoscopic procedures.

Besides participation at the industry exhibition Ovesco’s OTSC system and latest versions of innovative application aids are used in two workshops for advanced endoscopists on Thursday 19 March.
Organisation: Prof. Dr. J. Hochberger, Hildesheim, and PD Dr. J. Maiss, Forchheim:

Workshop I1/I2
Management of endoscopic emergencies – perforations and post-op leakage.
Hands-on training in endoscopy simulators.

Workshop J1/J2
NOTES Toolbox for gastroenterologists.

Moreover, results of studies with Ovescco’s OTS-Clip are shown in two posters
(Poster assessment on Friday, 20 March 2009, 1 – 2 pm):

P25 Die flexibel-endoskopische transgastrale Cholezystektomie: eine Machbarkeitsstudie
(Flexible-endoscopic transgastric cholecystectomy: Feasibility study)
T. Kratt (1), A. Arezzo (2), C. N. Ho (1), G. Anhoeck (1), C. Fleisch (1), M. O.Schurr (1);
(1) Tübingen, (2) Torino

P26 Der flexibel-endoskopische Zugangsverschluss mittels OTS-Clip nach transgastral-intraabdomineller NOTES-Intervention: Ergebnisse einer Überlebens-Versuchsstudie am Schwein (Flexible-endoscopic closure of access hole with OTS-Clip after transgastric intraabdominal NOTES intervention: Results of a survival trial in pigs)
T. Kratt (1), A. Arezzo (2), G. Anhoeck (1), C.N. Ho (1), C. Fleisch (1), M. Schenk (1), T. Greiner (1), A. Königsrainer (1), M. O.Schurr (1); (1) Tübingen, (2) Torino

Please visit us at the industry exhibition at booth number 202.

Please click here to know more about the congress: www.dgebv.de/jahrestagung.html

February 2009 | Ovesco and Suntek Medical Systems, Seoul, Korea, enter into contractual relationship for the distribution of OTSC products in Korea

Suntek Medical Systems is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in the Republic of Korea.

See "Contact us"

February 2009 | Ovesco signs distribution agreement with Kungshusen Medicinska AB, Mariefred, Sweden, for the distribution of OTSC products in Sweden

Kungshusen Medicinska AB in Mariefred, Sweden, is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Sweden.

See "Contact us"

February 2009 | Endo Plus Service KFT. Budapest, and Ovesco place contract for the distribution of OTSC products in Hungary

Endo Plus Service KFT., Budapest, is a leading distributor of medical products for the Hungarian market and will act as exclusive distributor of the OTSC products in Hungary.

See "Contact us"

February 2009 | Ovesco selects Braun Scandinavia A/S, Værløse, Denmark, as distributors of the OTSC products in Denmark

Braun Scandinavia A/S, as a leading distributor of medical products for the Danish market is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the exclusive distribution of OTSC products in Denmark.

See "Contact us"

January 2009 | Ovesco and LIFE PARTNERS EUROPE sign distribution contract for Ovesco products in France

Life Partners Europe, the largest independent distributor of endoscopy devices in France is contracted by Ovesco for the exclusive distribution of the OTSC System in France.

See "Contact us"

January 2009 | Euromedical SRL, Brescia, is selected by Ovesco to act as exclusive distributor in Italy

As a leading distributor of medical products on the Italian marked Euromedical SRL will act as Ovesco's sole and exclusive distributor for the sale of the OTSC System in Italy.

See "Contact us"

January 2009 | Ovesco signs contract with Izasa Distribuciones Tecnicas SA in Barcelona for the distribution of the OTSC products in Spain

Izasa Distribuciones Tecnicas SA in Barcelona is contracted by Ovesco Endoscopy AG for the distribution of the OTSC products in Spain.

See "Contact us"

December 2008 | "Bear Claw: Closing Perforations" Prof. J. Hochberger, MD, reported at the 32nd Annual New York Course on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 17-20 December 2008

At the President's Lecture on Endoscopy, Economics, Politics and Patients "A Glimpse into the Future of Endoscopy" Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hochberger gave his video based presentation on the use of OTSC. In a subsequent hands-on course the application of the OTSC system was demonstrated.
Theme of the meeting was "Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Breaking New Ground", and it was hosted by the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and jointly sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

December 2008 | Favourable assessment of OTSC system and OTSC twin grasper in a study on hollow organ defect closure in NOTES

In their review article, Prof. Dr. A. Arezzo from the University of Torino and colleagues from the Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Milan, the University of Tuebingen, from the Steinbeis University Berlin, IHCI Institute Tuebingen and Ovesco Endoscopy AG give an overview on potentials and feasibility of NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery). Therein, they describe the application of the OTSC system and OTSC twin grasper, especially in transgastric interventions. They report on a prospective phantom trial measuring the burst pressure after hand suture vs. OTSC placement, demonstrating the equivalence of the two procedures.
Moreover, they write that feasibility tests in domestic pigs allowed to demonstrate not only gas-tight closure, but also a perfect invagination of the serosal layer of the stomach once the OTSC is released.
They conclude that the hollow organ defect closure represents the most important issue now to determine whether or not there will be a future for NOTES, which is being investigated in ongoing surviving animal labs.

New developments for endoscopic hollow organ closure in prospective of NOTES

Alberto Arezzo (1), Alessandro Repici (2), Andreas Kirschniak (3),Marc O. Schurr (4, 5), Chi Nghia Ho (5), Mario Morino (1)

(1) Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
(2) Endoscopic Unit, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Milano, Italy
(3) Department of Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
(4) Steinbeis University Berlin, IHCI Institute, Tuebingen, Germany
(5) Ovesco Endoscopy AG, Tuebingen, Germany
Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies. 2008; 17:6; 355-360

December 2008 | Ovesco and MediStim KirOp, Oslo, enter into contractual relationship on the distribution of the OTSC System in Norway by MediStim KirOp.

MediStim KirOp is a leading distributor of medical products for the Norwegian market and will act as exclusive distributor.

See "Contact us"

December 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG selects Gerhard Pejcl Medizintechnik Handels GmbH in Vienna as distributors for Austria

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has selected Gerhard Pejcl Medizintechnik Handels GmbH in Vienna as distributors for his OTSC endoscopic clipping system for Austria.

See "Contact us"

December 2008 | European collabora-
tion yields the first OTSC clip release via telemetric endoscopic capsule

Conclusions of Dr. Pietro Valdastri and colleagues in their article in the journal "Endoscopy": "This study reports the first successfull in vivo surgical experiment using a wireless endoscopic capsule, paving the way to a new generation of capsule devices able to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic tasks."

Wireless therapeutic endoscopic capsule: in vivo experiment
P. Valdastri (1), C. Quaglia (1), E. Susilo (1,2), A. Menciassi (1,2), C. N. Ho (3), G. Anhöck (3), M.O. Schurr (3,4)

1 CRIM (Center for Research in Microengineering) Lab, Scuala Superiore Sant’Anna, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy
2 Italian Institute of Technology Network, Genova, Italy
3 Ovesco AG, Tübingen, Germany
4 IHCI (Institute of Healthcare Industries), Steinbeis University Berlin, Tübingen, Germany
Endoscopy 2008; 40:1-4, in press

November 2008 | OTSC system will be presented at the 1st Experimental Course on NOTES in Cáceres, Spain,
1 - 2 December 2008

For more information please see the announcement (pdf)

November 2008 | Ovesco wins innovation grant by the State Government of Baden-Württemberg

The budget will be used to develop new instruments to supplement our signature OTSC product family

"Innovationsgutschein" (pdf)

November 2008 | "The initial clinical use of this clipping device proved to be efficient and effective." Conclusion of Dr. A. Repici and colleagues on Ovesco's OTSC system in their report, published in the journal Digestive and Liver Disease

In a new clinical report about OTSC, A. Repici and colleagues published:
Results:
All applications resulted successful, i.e. haemostasis was achieved, and/or wall defects could be closed. No complication was observed that could be ascribed to the clip itself or to the technique.
Conclusions:
The OTSC system is a new endoscopic tool for compression of large tissue areas and its indications are nonvaricose bleedings difficult to control and lesions or perforations of the GI tract. The initial clinical use of this clipping device proved to be efficient and effective.

Clinical experience with a new endoscopic over-the-scope clip system for use in the GI tract
Digestive and Liver Disease, In Press, available online 18 October 2008
A. Repici, A. Arezzo, G. De Caro, M. Morino, N. Pagano, G. Rando, F. Romeo, G. Del Conte, S. Danese, A. Malesci

To see the preview: www.sciencedirect.com

November 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG has signed distributor contract with HSC Industry s.r.o. in Czech Republic

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has contracted HSC Industry s.r.o. in Trmice, Czech Republic, as distributors for his OTSC endoscopic clipping system

See "Contact us"

November 2008 | OTSC® system was successfully presented at the 2nd Curso Internacional de NOTES-W.I.D.E.R-
Barcelona, Spain, on 10 – 11 November 2008

At the two-day international event with a theoretical and a practical part the complete OTSC system was presented in both, gathering outstanding positive feedback.
The meeting was hosted by José Ramón Armengol-Miró, Manuel Armengol Carrasco, and Antonio J. Torres García.
(W.I.D.E.R.-Barcelona: World Institute for Digestive Endoscopy Research)

www.wider-barcelona.org

October 2008 | OTSC determined as appropriate for secure closure of suitable transgastric NOTES approaches in experimental study

In an experimental study recently published in the journal Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Dr. Thomas Kratt, Department of Surgery, Tuebingen University, Tuebingen, Germany results of gastrotomy closure by OTSC were presented. Gastric closure after NOTES was technically successful in 8 out of 9 cases with airtight seal of the lesion on endoscopic insufflation. In one case there was a mismatch of gastrotomy size and clip size, so that clip closure was not undertaken. No clip-system failure or clip damages or any unexpected lesions because of the clip system were found. At unphysiologically high insufflation pressures slight airleak was seen in 4 cases. The time range between reinsertion of the clip-loaded endoscope and clip application required 4 to 22 minutes (mean 12.3 +/-5.4 minutes). The authors conclude they find the OTSC system to be appropriate for secure closure of suitable transgastric NOTES approaches in human beings:
”Conclusions: Sufficient closure of transgastric NOTES approaches is feasible when using the OTSC system. When considering our clinical experience, the OTSC system was shown to be an uncomplicated and secure sealing technique in human beings.“

Feasibility study for secure closure of natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery gastrotomies by using over-the-scope clips

Thomas Kratt, MD, Markus Küper, MD, Frank Traub, MD, PhD, Chi-Nghia Ho, MSc, Marc Oliver Schurr, MD, Alfred Königsrainer, MD, Frank Alexander Granderath, MD, Andreas Kirschniak, MD
Volume 68, No. 5:2008 GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY; 993-996
Copyright © American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

October 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy AG contracts Kalteq S.A., Athens as distributors for Greece and Cyprus

Ovesco Endoscopy AG has contracted Kalteq S.A., Athens, as distributors for his OTSC endoscopic clipping system for Greece and Cyprus.

See "Contact us"

October 2008 | 16th United European Gastroenterology Week - UEGW;
18 - 22 October 2008 in Vienna, Austria

Ovesco Endoscopy presents its OTSC clipping system and ancillary instruments for endoscopic organ wall closure at the 16th United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna. The OTSC system is Ovesco's superelastic endoscopic clipping system for the closure of the gastrointestinal organ wall or for the endoscopic treatment of hemorrhage.

Please visit us at the industry exhibition,
booth number 220.

For further information about the 16th United European Gastroenterology Week, please click here.

October 2008 | OTSC in the new column „Clinical cases“ on the website of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy (SIED – Società Italiana Endoscopia Digestiva)

A presentation of Ovesco’s OTSC clipping system including video demonstration is online not only for the almost 2000 members of the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy:

Caso Clinico – 07/08;

OTSC - Over The Scope Clip: Una grande clip in Nitinolo di nuova concezione

A. Arezzo¹, A. Repici², A. Kirschniak, A. Koenigsrainer, T. Kratt³

¹Centro Universitario di Chirurgia MIninvasiva, Università di Torino
²Istituto Clinico Humanitas - Servizio di Endoscopia Digestiva, Rozzano (MI) ³Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Tuebingen, Germany

To view the video, click the photo on the website

September 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH have changed their legal form and are now called Ovesco Endoscopy AG

Frank Ramsperger has been elected Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Professor Dr. Marc O. Schurr has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Professor Dr. med. Thomas Gottwald is Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hansjörg Bürk is also Member of the Supervisory Board.

September 2008 | OTSC found best approach to close gastric access after NOTES: results of a comparative experimental trial

Brussels, September 26, 2008, EURO-NOTES meeting (see also News below) - Dr. Manuel Perez-Miranda and colleagues presented a comparative experimental trial comparing different techniques for closing transgastric access to the abdominal cavity in NOTES. Their two-phase trial involved 4 endoscopic devices for closure, among them Ovesco’s OTSC clip, investigated by 14 endoscopists . OTSC was found to provide highest pressure resistance, is most simple to apply and requires the lowest procedural time.
The study was done under a research grant by the EURO-NOTES foundation.

For full results of the study please refer to: Perez-Miranda M, Gonzalez-Huix F, Goyeneche M, Dolz C, Jusgado D, Gonzalez-Carro P, Espinos J, Igeo F, Vazquez-Sequeiros E, Perez-Duarte F. Relative Performance of four second generation flexible endoscopic NOTES closure techniques (FECT’s).
Endoscopy 2008; 49: 790-794,
ESGE Newsletter

September 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy supports EURO-NOTES workshop 2008 as corporate partner

The EURO-NOTES workshop, 25 - 27 Sept. 2008 in Brussels, Belgium, will be the leading scientific meeting on Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) in Europe this year. The meeting will bring gastroenterologists, surgeons and other scientists together and highlight the current clinical and experimental research on NOTES.

Ovesco Endoscopy is proud to be an industry partner of EURO-NOTES and to support the meeting.

Click here to view the conference program.

For further information on EURO-NOTES please check: www.euro-notes.org

September 2008 | Leading Tuebingen newspaper reports about Ovesco’s success story

Though the comprehensive article focusses on the OTSC clip and its promising prospects it also deals with the history, the plans for the future and presents Ovesco’s team of experts.

Click here to view the article.

August 2008 | 20th International Conference of the Society for Medical Innovation and Technology – SMIT;
28 - 30 August 2008 in Vienna, Austria

Ovesco’s clinical partners will present the latest results from their experience with  the NOTES closure device.

Please visit us at booth number B 4 at Level -1 of the industrial exhibition. You may watch live demonstrations of the OTSC system or even try your hand in a phantom build-up.

For further information about the conference and for the conference program, please check: www.smit2008.com

July 2008 | Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH appoints Johan Ceuppens as Commercial Director Europe

Ovesco Endoscopy GmbH has contracted Mr Johan Ceuppens, Managing Director of Fides Medical BVBA, Belgium, to advise the executive management on the distribution of the OTSC product line in Europe and to act as Commercial Director Europe. Johan Ceuppens has substantial professional experience in the area of commercialising products for minimally invasive therapy and in establishing distribution for advanced medical products. His role at Ovesco will include European market development and the selection of distribution partners.

Prof. Dr. Marc Schurr, Managing Director of Ovesco stated: "The involvement of Johan Ceuppens is a relevant step ahead in distributing our OTSC product line in the European market. We are looking forward to building out a strong and successful cooperation. Johan Ceuppens said: “I am very pleased to work together with the Ovesco team in supporting them to successfully commercialize the OTSC system in Europe. The OTSC system as an innovative device for the treatment of hemorrhage and organ wall lesions in the gastrointestinal tract has great potential and is a very motivational aspect in my cooperation with the Ovesco team."

July 2008 | Results of experimental study on closure of iatrogenic colonic lesions with OTSC published in ENDOSCOPY

The results of a prospective experimental laboratory trial on the use of OTSC for the closure of iatrogeneic full thickness perforations of the colonic wall published in the issue of the scientific journal Endoscopy by M.O. Schurr et al. Ovesco Endoscopy was the sponsor of the trial. The study revealed 100% closure rate and uneventful postoperative course in all 9 cases that completed the study. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the clipping sites in the bowel wall showed normal tissue healing and no pathological reaction on the implant over a follow-up period of 3 months.

Reprints can be requested from Ovesco Endoscopy AG: info@ovesco.com.

Click here to read the abstract of the article: Endoscopy 2008; 40: 584-588

July 2008 | J. Hochberger et al. report about experimental experiences and clinical perspective of NOTES, including OTSC

Prof. Dr. J. Hochberger and co-workers published article on the current status of NOTES in experimental and clinical procedures.  The experiences also include Ovesco’s OTSC-clip for the closure of transgastric access.

Hochberger J, Lamade W, Matthes K, Menke D, Köhler T. NOTES – Experimentelle Erfahrungen und klinische Perspektiven, in: Köckerling F (Hrsg.) NOTES – Eingriffe über natürliche Körperöffnungen. Hans-Marseille Verlag GmbH, München, (2008) 29-51

June 2008 | OTSC  was successfully tested against three other endoscopic closure techniques by independent researchers in the setting of a EURO-NOTES Foundation-sponsored trial conducted at the CCMI (Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre) in Cáceres, Spain, from 16 – 20 June.

Dr. Manuel Pérez-Miranda, Principal Investigator of the EURO-NOTES Olympus Research Fund project “Operator variability and relative performance of four second generation flexible endoscopic closure techniques (fects)“, had invited Ovesco Endoscopy and other companies to prove their devices in a comparative study aiming to assess effectiveness in closing organ ports after NOTES access.
The comparative study was conducted by groups of independent international endoscopic surgeons (at least 3 each day) at the Centro de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión (CCMI) in Cáceres.

Participants agreed that the OTSC System achieved outstanding  performance in stomach and colon phantom models, and thus it won the reward to proceed to in-vivo tests in 5 pigs. There too, it proved apt in subsequent leakage tests and other efficiency examinations

The results will be worked out and published by Dr. Pérez-Miranda, Hospital del Río Hortega, Valladolid, Spain, and his coworkers.

June 2008 | Researchers present OTSC as organ closure technique at German D-NOTES meeting

The interdisciplinary German working group on Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery, D-NOTES, holds its second annual scientific meeting in Hamburg, Germany, from June 26 to 28 under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Karl-Hermann Fuchs, Frankfurt, Germany.

At D-NOTES 2008, Prof. Dr. Juergen Hochberger, Hildesheim, Germany, will demonstrate the use of Ovesco’s OTSC system for the closure of gastric access in NOTES in a live laboratory session.
Dr. Thomas Kratt, Tuebingen, Germany, a leading clinical user of the OTSC system, will present his data on organ closure with OTSC in NOTES from a new laboratory study.
Prof. Dr. Hubert Feussner, Munich, Germany, will discuss OTSC with the members of the
D-NOTES working group who will meet under his leadership.

For further information on the D-NOTES 2008 meeting, please click here.  

June 2008 | Clinical experts present OTSC clipping system as an effective device for digestive organ closure in endoluminal and transluminal surgery

16th congress of the EAES (European Association for Endoscopic Surgery), Stockholm, Sweden, June 11-14: In the session on emerging technologies for NOTES and endoluminal surgery on June 11, 2008, Ronald Mårvik, MD, Trondheim, Norway presented OTSC as a digestive organ wall closure device in his presentation "Concepts of closure: The surgeon’s perspective".  Alberto Arezzo, MD, Torino, Italy highlighted OTSC as an effective closure device in his presentation "Role of clips and smart materials for closure of hollow organs".  Andrea Costanzi, MD, Guildford, UK, presented the results of an experimental study in his talk "Gastrotomy closure by means of OTSC clip in a porcine tissue training model for NOTES" in the session on free paper video presentations on June 12, 2008.  He reported a 100% closure rate of the gastrotomy in his experimental trial.  Andreas Kirschniak, MD, Moenchengladbach, Germany, reported about clinical series of 35 flexible endoscopy patients in which OTSC was successfully used for hemostasis or closure in different indications: "Clinical Experiences with the Over-The-Scope Clip (OTSC)" in the session on flexible surgery on Saturday, June 14, 2008.


June 2008 | Launch of the OTSC system for endoscopic organ wall closure at the 16th EAES congress in Stockholm, June 11-14, 2008

Ovesco Endoscopy launches its OTSC clipping system and ancillary instruments for endoscopic organ wall closure at the 16th congress of the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES) in Stockholm, Sweden, June 11-14, 2008. The OTSC system is Ovesco's superelastic endoscopic clipping system for the closure of the gastrointestinal organ wall or for the endoscopic treatment of hemorrhage.

Please visit us at the industry exhibition, booth number 58.

Please find here the product information on the OTSC system

For further information about the 16th EAES congress, please click here


April 2008 | OTSC^® presented as an organ closure device for NOTES

Prof. Dr. Marc O. Schurr, Managing Director of Ovesco Endoscopy, summarized the current status of the new OTSC^® NOTES system for organ closure after Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery at the scientific conference "Technology in Oncological Surgery: Standard and Novel Procedures", Naples, Italy, April 17-19 2008. The meeting was attended by Italian and international experts in oncological surgery, also interested in the future potential of NOTES in abdominal endoscopic procedures.

Please click here to view the presentation


March 2008 | Ovesco announces the promotion of Chi-Nghia Ho to Director of Engineering

Besides his role in R&D Chi-Nghia Ho will also be in charge of manufacturing Ovesco’s products.


March 2008 | The use of OTSC® in organ closure and NOTES presented at the S.I.E.D. conference (Società Italiana Endoscopia Digestiva) in Rimini on March 11, 2008

Dr. Alberto Arezzo and colleagues reported about the use of OTSC® in experimental NOTES transgastric cholecystectomy. OTSC was successfully applied for the closure of transgastric access to the abdominal cavity in the animal model.

http://www.sied.it/


March 2008 | Ovesco is attending the Learning Center SIED (Società Italiana Endoscopia Digestiva) from March 8 to 11, 2008 in Rimini, Italy

The application of the OTSC® system will be demonstrated and applied in a phantom at a workshop on Monday 10, 2008, to show for example the closure of an iatrogenic lesion of the stomach wall.

http://www.sied.it/

February 2008 | The OTSC® system is presented as an innovative product in the management of complications at the 38th Congress of the German society for endoscopy and imaging procedures (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Endoskopie und Bildgebende Verfahren (DGE-BV) in Mannheim (Germany) from February 28 to March 1, 2008

ovesco (Dipl.-Ing. Chi-Nghia Ho and Dipl.-Ing. Gunnar Anhöck) will apply OTSC clips in phantoms in a workshop for advanced endoscopists dealing with the management of endoscopic emergencies.

http://www.endoskopie2008.de/



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