Press Release | 2.14.2008
Relationship Between Leading Simulation Technology Providers Broadens Opportunities for Distribution, New Markets
SILVER SPRING, MD and GAITHERSBURG, MD - B-Line Medical, LLC and Immersion Medical, a subsidiary of Immersion Corporation,
today announced a strategic partnership enabling Immersion Medical to distribute an enhanced version of B-Line Medical's
SimCaptureTM product. SimCapture is an all-in-one solution for capturing, debriefing, assessing
and centralizing multiple types of simulation encounters. Immersion, a leading manufacturer of virtual reality (VR) simulation
devices, will be the first licensed 3rd -party distributor of SimCapture, and will be actively pursuing domestic,
international, and government sales opportunities.
"This is an exciting step in the evolution of the SimCapture product," said Lucas Huang, CEO of B-Line Medical. "The partnership with
Immersion Medical allows B-Line Medical to gain a firmer foothold in the area of VR simulation, in addition to our existing presence in
procedural and mannequin-based simulation."
Medical training on simulation devices such as Immersion Medical's Virtual IV intravenous simulator, Endoscopy AccuTouch® Simulator,
CathLabVRTM surgical simulator, and LaparoscopyVTM surgical simulation system have
proven to result in improved performance, shorter response time, and less deviation from practice standards than training without
simulators, ultimately improving patient safety. B-Line Medical's SimCapture solution is designed to maximize the investment made in
simulation technology by capturing and distributing all elements of the simulated encounter. SimCapture records multiple video feeds
in digital format, handles annotation and debriefing, integrates with multiple simulator types (including both VR devices and mannequins),
and builds participant portfolios automatically. SimCapture also manages users, provides tools for scenario and checklist creation, and
generates multiple types of usage, session, and aggregate reports, all from a 100% web-based software interface. SimCapture is currently
in use at prominent hospitals, medical schools, and nursing programs across the United States, Canada and Europe.
Mark Meents, VP- Sales and Marketing, Immersion Medical, said "Immersion Medical is pleased to partner with technology leader B-Line Medical.
Their commitment to improving the general usability and functionality of all simulation devices is admirable. By broadening our product
portfolio with the SimCapture solution, we can provide even greater value to potential clients, whether they use, virtual reality devices,
mannequins or low-fidelity task trainers for their simulation training."
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About B-Line Medical (www.blinemedical.com)
B-Line Medical’s SimBridgeTM and
SimCaptureTM solutions have been selected by dozens of top medical education institutions as the most advanced,
comprehensive and easiest to use solution for managing simulation and Clinical Skills training centers. Through its sophisticated
web-based architecture, SimBridge and SimCapture address the complex set of challenges presented by small and large simulation facilities:
automated testing, assessment and video capture, simulator data integration, debriefing, and portfolio assembly.
From the affordable and portable SimCapture to the powerful and highly automated SimBridge, B-Line Medical solutions maximize
resources, allowing faculty and staff to focus on student and curriculum development. For more information visit www.blinemedical.com.
About Immersion Medical (www.immersionmedical.com)
Immersion Medical, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets computer-based surgical simulation training systems
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, the LaparoscopyVRTM
surgical simulation system,CathLabVRTM surgical simulator, and the Virtual IV intravenous simulator.
Press Release | 9.10.2007
Relationship Continues in CMS' Longstanding Tradition of Innovation in Simulation by Aligning with Leading Technology Provider
SILVER SPRING, MD and CAMBRIDGE, MA - B-Line Medical, LLC and the Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) today announced that they are
partnering to provide a state-of-the-art simulation solution for the facility's already cutting edge simulation programs. B-Line Medical
will be installing their SimCenterTM/SimCubeTM solution in CMS' simulation facility in Cambridge, MA, adjacent to the MIT campus.
The system will facilitate a greater degree of fidelity in capture and recording of encounters, as well as providing a strong platform
for more effective outcome-based analysis across a wide variety of simulation scenarios. CMS was founded by the hospitals affiliated with
Harvard Medical School and expects to use B-line Medical's system to provide a coordinated platform across the simulation facilities at
each of the institutions.
"We look forward to working with CMS to enhance the effectiveness and usability of their simulation offerings," said B-Line Medical
CEO, Chafic Kazoun. "Considering that they are one of the most respected, pioneering providers of simulation training in the world,
their selection of SimCenter/SimCube as a software platform highlights the simulation community's growing recognition of B-Line
Medical as the number one solution provider in this market space."
Like CMS, simulation programs worldwide are now undergoing an aggressive phase of investigation into the potential for applying digital
recording and evaluation solutions to both existing and proposed facilities. The SimCenter and SimCube solutions are an effective
mechanism for easily capturing and evaluating both video and simulator telemetry from a wide variety of simulation devices, including high
fidelity mannequins, virtual reality simulators, part task trainers, and various medical devices. In addition, these solutions provide
evaluation/reporting, annotation, user management, and scheduling functionality. Both of these products unequivocally lead the industry
in innovation, ease of use, and market share, having been selected by 30% of all US medical schools and a growing number of hospitals
and nursing programs.
Dr. Jeffrey Cooper, Executive Director of CMS, said "We are very excited to be working with B-Line Medical on this project. This is an
opportunity to take our simulation activities to a new level that will benefit both simulation participants and faculty, allowing for significant
performance efficiencies and ease-of-use advantages. B-Line Medical's expertise in software development and extensive experience in developing and
supporting simulation facilities make them a unique partner, which will be of great value to CMS moving forward."
Press Release | 3.31.2007
New Product Line Provides Powerful, Targeted Tools for Medical Simulation and Affordable, Digital Solutions for Smaller-Scale Institutions
SILVER SPRING, MD - B-Line Medical, LLC today announced the release of two exciting new products targeted towards the medical
simulation space. Continuing to build on their expertise in the clinical assessment domain, and drawing upon extensive feedback from their user base of
30+ top-ranked medical schools and simulation training facilities, B-Line Medical has developed DebrieferTM, an annotation/debrief
tool specifically targeted towards the needs of educators regularly involved with running simulation scenarios. Also launched today was the new
SimCubeTM product, a low cost complement to the already successful centerwide SimCenterTM solution.
The Debriefer integrated video annotation tool was created after extensive research, evaluation of client feedback, and consultation with experts in
the field of medical simulation. A significant amount of time was invested by B-Line Medical engineers to design a tool that met the
various needs of simulation educators, while maintaining the same ease of use that B-Line Medical clients have come to expect
and depend on.
"Our clients and partners have played a vital role in the evolution of the Debriefer product. As a company, we have always put our
users first and are committed to innovating to improve their experience- this is a case where we were able to have some really dynamic conversations and build
that experience from the ground up," said Chafic Kazoun, President and CTO of B-Line Medical. "I'm confident that this process has resulted in a
powerful tool that will have immediate impact on how people educate using simulation."
The Debriefer is powerful in its simplicity: its function is to annotate and view scenario video, as well as accompanying simulator
data and monitor evaluations when present. From a single, web-based interface a powerful array of tools and features are available:
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4 Simultaneous Feeds:
up to 4 video feeds (or 3 video feeds and a physiological monitor) can be displayed simultaneously and played back synchronously
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SimBridgeTM Technology:
simulator data from high fidelity METI®, Immersion MedicalTM and Laerdal® simulators is captured in sync
with recorded video, and can be displayed as 20+ individually selectable trendlines or as event log files
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Interactive Debriefing Tools:
trendline data points and simulator / annotation log files can be clicked to directly navigate to that specific point in the scenario video
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Annotation:
all video can be annotated with text, colored icons, or a combination of the two. In addition to free text entries, predefined text with
associated icons can be created, added to existing libraries, and reused
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Display Flexibility:
choose between 4 different workspace layouts including video review mode, video evaluation mode, checklist evaluation mode, and
annotation mode. Toggle between trendlines, log files, annotations, and checklist evaluations while reviewing video. Quickly
navigate among individual participants, groups, and projects while making annotations or completing evaluations
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Online Profiles:
all video, annotation, and evaluation data is associated to both individual participants and groups, creating an online portfolio
of simulation activities and allowing for longitudinal assessment of simulation performance over time. Peer review, faculty review,
and formative procedures become simple, quick, and easy to administer, allowing for improvement of overall simulation effectiveness
The Debriefer will be available in all future installations of B-Line Medical products, including both SimCenter and SimCube.
Designed to more effectively meet the needs of smaller (1-3 room) or mobile simulation facilities, SimCube is an all-in-one
software/hardware package. Powered by the same core software as SimCenter, SimCube is capable of providing the same functionality at
a lower price point. User management, digital video capture and archiving, and both individual and group evaluation are possible from
a single easy to use interface. Recording of scenarios can be initiated on the fly, videos are automatically indexed to each participant’s online profile and can be accessed immediately after sessions are complete, and
all video can be marked up using the Debriefer annotation tool.
Lucas Huang, B-Line Medical’s Chief Executive Officer, is optimistic about the future of SimCube. "One of the strongest criticisms of our company in the past
has been the cost (of the SimCenter solution). Regardless of the accuracy of those criticisms, SimCube gives us the opportunity to provide the same type of
functionality at a significantly reduced cost. With the barrier to entry lowered considerably, we are hopeful that this will motivate some smaller facilities
or facilities with smaller budgets to explore the benefits of a digital solution to enhance their simulation activities."
SimCube also contains a unique set of scenario management tools allowing for quick creation and administration
of simulation exercises. Create libraries of predefined icons and scripts for simulator operators, quickly build evaluation checklists
for monitors, and run a number of useful reports all from a single streamlined interface. Combined with the powerful feature set of
Debriefer, SimCube is the perfect addition for hospitals, nursing programs, community colleges, or any facility with limited space or resources looking to
maximize the value of their existing simulation investment.
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