Senior managers from Surgical Innovations regularly attend surgery to see first-hand how clinicians use their products – but 43-year-old Paul Birtles took this to the next level by experiencing his company’s flagship laparoscopic instruments himself.

 

Speaking after the operation, Birtles, whose job involves checking all products are designed to the highest standards, told HES: “Surgical Innovations has been trying to get me into surgery to see our products in action for five years now and the only way they have succeeded is through a general anaesthetic. I have always had a huge fear of hospitals and in particular operating theatres, but having now experienced the instruments from the patient side, I am keen to go into theatre and see how the operation is performed.

Paul Birtles is manufacturing director of Surgical Innovations

 

“We always say that the next person the product may be used on could be a family member, friend or even yourself and that’s certainly poignant in this case.” 

Birtles was admitted to hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pains and within a few hours was receiving emergency treatment for appendicitis. Surgeons quickly decided to remove his appendix using laparoscopic surgery and chose Surgical Innovations’ resposable Port access system, YelloPort+plus, which is designed and manufactured at the plant in Leeds.

“Surgical Innovations had been trying to get me into surgery to see our products in action for five years now and the only way they succeeded was through a general anaesthetic. I have always had a huge fear of hospitals and in particular operating theatres, but having now experienced the instruments from the patient side, I am keen to go into theatre and see how the operation is performed”

Birtles said: “The device acts as a channel into the body allowing surgeons to carry out delicate surgery and is one of the products I am in charge of. It is specially designed to make the procedure as easy as possible for the surgeon and ensure minimal scarring for the patient, something I can now personally testify to.”

 

Founded in 1992, Surgical Innovations was the world’s first company to develop flexible, but ultimately rigid laparoscopic devices. The firm has now gained a worldwide reputation for innovative development of surgery products and has become a leading pioneer for Minimally Invasive Surgery.

YelloPort+plus won The South Yorkshire Comprehensive Local Research Network Innovation Award for manufacturer, Surgical Innovations