Simendo
Affordable, Mobile, and Intuitive Medical Simulators

Today, medical simulators successfully address the three primary challenges that plague the medical training domain--constrained accessibility to resources and equipment, restricted budgets, and lack of time to utilize them efficiently. Simulation-based medical training and learning have become a quintessential part of the medical education curriculum; it enables students to acquire and learn skills by practice rather than observing as an apprentice. An artificial representation of an operation theatre serves as an effective alternative for patients, improving patient safety and reducing the cost of training. Simulators also greatly benefit students, who can fearlessly practice and learn from their mistakes without harming patients. And in the aftermath of the covid-19 pandemic, when there is a fear of contracting the virus, the usage of simulators has become even more relevant. Despite its irrefutable advantages, the adoption of medical simulators is relatively slow as they are often very expensive. Providing Europe’s medical education industry with cost-effective, intuitive, and compact simulators adorned with seamless functionalities is Simendo.

Rotterdam-based Simendo was founded in 2010 by Joeri Post, CEO, and Mark Wentink, CTO, with a sole focus on basic medical procedures and skills training since the medical technologies available then were not effective enough. In 2020, realizing that the medtech sector has advanced enough to develop algorithms to simulate human organs properly, the duo launched their first simulator for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Today, Simendo is one of the first companies globally with a strong focus on online control of its simulators, named Simendo laparoscopy+, Simendo arthroscopy+, Simendo camera+, and Simendo all in one+. These simulators are adorned with an extensive range of scientifically validated exercises that improve the motor skills of surgeons, gynaecologists, and urologists regarding laparoscopic operations. For orthopaedists, Simendo has designed a unique simulator that is geared solely around arthroscopy skills. Elaborating on this, Joeri adds, “The exercises are bundled in curricula with increasing difficulty. For every curriculum, a certificate is issued digitally to the user through MySimendo.com, where all training data is synced and can be managed.”

Owing to the availability of course material and training progress online, trainees can practice on the simulators at their own pace, irrespective of a teachers’ or supervisors’ presence. Additionally, Simendo successfully resolves accessibility issues by making its simulators mobile.

The exercises are bundled in curricula with increasing difficulty. For every curriculum, a certificate is issued digitally to the user through MySimendo.com, where all training data is synced and can be managed

They can be transported and placed anywhere—at homes, doctors’ clinics, or hospitals. Users can effortlessly connect the simulators on their laptops or computers and don’t need to re-configure them every time they are activated. Supervisors or accessors are automatically notified when a trainee passes a curriculum, saving them a lot of time. “Doctors often stay at the hospital overnight and have fewer responsibilities until a patient arrives. This is when they can use the Simendo simulator and judiciously utilize their time,” reckons Joeri. With over six thousand registered doctors, ten thousand completed training sessions, and advanced user-centric products, Simendo has consolidated its position in the healthcare industry. Its clients speak highly of its products and services and leverage them to effectively resolve their training-related concerns. To illustrate the same, Joeri cites the success story of New Castle Training Centre (NSTC).

The client was looking for a simulator that they could provide to their trainees for practising at home. NSTC deployed Simendo’s range of simulators and enabled its trainees to connect them to their laptops at home and complete their training. At the same time, their supervisors received a copy of the completion certificates in their emails. After the training was over, the trainees returned the simulators to NSTC. The company scripted a similar success story with Johnson & Johnson, which was looking for a high-end mobile simulator for training courses and hospitals. Simendo developed a special online portal where the users were able to supervise the training remotely.

Additionally, during the pandemic, Simendo shipped its instruments to many hospitals and configured them without having to visit them. In essence, the company had already equipped its simulators to effectively navigate the new changes brought about by the unprecedented emergency. Considering how Simendo is at the forefront of redefining medical simulation in Europe’s medtech industry, its future appears promising and brighter than ever.

From 2022, Simendo will offer its first surgical procedure, a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, along with a wide range of multi-speciality processes. As part of its current endeavours, the company is developing prototypes of mobile haptic and robotic surgery simulators. “Currently, we’re miles ahead of the rest. We are already represented worldwide, but there is still a lot to win. Next to our home ground in Europe, our focus is to expand and offer our solutions in APAC and the USA,” concludes Joeri.