Immersion Medical Adds Knot Tying and Suturing to LaparoscopyVR(TM) Surgical Simulator

Immersion Corporation (NASDAQ:IMMR), a leading developer and licensor of touch feedback technology (http://www.immersion.com/corporate/), announces that Immersion Medical is adding a module that includes Suturing and Knot Tying procedures and Needle Orientation and Driving skills for the LaparoscopyVR™ (LapVR™) surgical simulator (http://www.immersion.com/medical/products/laparoscopy/). Immersion Medical will be demonstrating the new module in booth 125 at the annual meeting of the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) in Philadelphia, April 9–12. "Suturing and tying knots within the abdomen are among the most difficult skills that a laparoscopic surgeon needs to master,” said Dr. Parag Bhanot, assistant professor of surgery at Georgetown University Hospital. "I was impressed that I could mimic the same motions in Immersion Medical’s LapVR system that I perform in the operating room. The training modules are very realistic and avoid the typical video game appearance; thus, making it a very valuable and effective teaching tool.” Because the algorithms that drive the simulator’s responses are physics-based, the LapVR system can render very realistic tool-tissue interactions. "In the LapVR simulator, we’re providing a major step-up in the training environment for these skills,” said Dr. Kevin Kunkler, vice president and medical director of Immersion Medical. "For example, the system recognizes whether the user has double looped the suture, or when tying knots, whether they crossed in front of or behind the other length. These are maneuvers a surgeon needs for locking down knots and for completing surgeries successfully. So, the LapVR surgical simulator provides a high level of certainty about a user’s performance, which is exactly what you want in a medical training program.” The simulator’s suturing procedure provides practice in ligating loops, simple-interrupted, continuous, and horizontal-mattress techniques. Instead of presenting an artificial object for suturing, which is used in most other systems, the LapVR surgical simulator presents users with a realistic animated bowel of lifelike thickness. Users must correctly drive the needle through exterior and internal surfaces of the bowel, bring the cut edges together, and tie knots securely. Because of shorter patient recovery times and other benefits, as many as 70% of all high-volume surgeries in the U.S. are performed using laparoscopic techniques, and the trend is expected to continue(1). The LapVR surgical simulator supplies a safe and effective training platform to help acquire the skills needed to perform these surgeries. For example, suturing and knot tying are used in minimally invasive colon, gall bladder, gastric bypass, hernia, hysterectomy, and thoracic surgeries. The LapVR surgical simulator’s TouchSense® technology provides physics-based responses enabling realistic graphical movement of tissue and organs and realistic forces felt through the trocar arms and handles. The surgical simulation system comes with widely viewable monitor suitable for team training, virtual camera and tools, and, Essential Skills, Lap Chole, Running the Bowel, Adhesiolysis, and Administration modules -- all packaged in an ergonomic, height-adjustable, wheeled cart. Additional modules include OB/GYN Surgical Procedures and Suturing and Knot Tying. The system also includes a curriculum that follows the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) industry training standards, providing key materials needed to administer effective training programs for both individuals and teams. Institutions can also import their own didactic video content directly into the simulator for customized training. (1) The U.S. Market for Medical Devices - Opportunities and Challenges for Swiss Companies, Swiss Business Hub USA, Chicago, 2004. About Immersion Medical, Inc. (www.immersionmedical.com) Immersion Medical, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets computer-based surgical simulation training systems (http://www.immersion.com/medical/surgical_sim.php) worldwide. The medical and surgical simulators integrate proprietary computer software and tactile feedback robotics to create highly realistic medical simulations that help train clinicians. The company's key product lines are the Endoscopy AccuTouch® Simulator, CathLabVR™ surgical simulator, LaparoscopyVR™ surgical simulation system, and the Virtual IV intravenous simulator. About Immersion (www.immersion.com) Founded in 1993, Immersion Corporation is a recognized leader in developing, licensing, and marketing digital touch technology and products. Using Immersion’s advanced touch feedback technology (http://www.immersion.com/corporate/products/), electronic user interfaces can be made more productive, compelling, entertaining, or safer. Immersion’s technology is deployed across automotive, entertainment, industrial controls, medical training, mobility, and three-dimensional simulation markets. Immersion’s patent portfolio includes over 700 issued or pending patents in the U.S. and other countries. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of Immersion Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than the statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of earnings, revenues, or other financial matters; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning consumer response that may occur as a result of a module release, or consumer or market acceptance of simulator products for medical training, continuing education or evaluation or consumer and market acceptance of force feedback products in general; any statement regarding the timing of the commercial availability of a module; proposed products or services; any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; statements of belief; and any statement or assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Immersion’s actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with our business which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for our products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of force feedback as a critical user experience. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in our most current Form 10-K, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect our beliefs and predictions as of the date of this release. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements as a result of financial, business, or any other developments occurring after the date of this release. Immersion, the Immersion logo, LapVR, LaparoscopyVR, and TouchSense are trademarks of Immersion Corporation in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.