A Premier Research and Training Laboratory

Research and training are vital to patient care. For 50 years, Sutter has provided a premier research and training laboratory program in advanced medical and surgical technology to healthcare professionals and the biomedical industry. The SIMR laboratory is highly accredited facility that is recognized for its excellence. The laboratory provides fully equipped and staffed surgical research and training facilities, and works closely with each client to offer comprehensive research and development programs customized to meet the needs of each institution and company. In collaboration with leading healthcare providers and medical technology companies, more than 10,000 physicians, nurses, physician's assistants and technicians from throughout the U.S. and worldwide have participated in research and training programs at SIMR.

Accomplishments

The first of SIMR's programs, the laboratory began in 1957 with the development of the Smeloff-Cutter heart valve. During its history, the laboratory has played an instrumental role in improving the breadth of services and quality of care offered by Sutter Health.
Notable accomplishments include:

• Beginning in 1957, research support provided by the laboratory led to Sutter's complete cardiovascular service, beginning with the Smeloff-Cutter heart valve, followed by open-heart surgery and transplants and the formation of the Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute.
• In 1987, the laboratory provided training for the first use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for neonates in Northern California.
• For years, Sutter Memorial Hospital has maintained the lowest infant mortality rate in California, partially due to the advanced life-support training provided in the laboratory.
• Laboratory research resulted in the creation of the first exact-fitting, custom hip prostheses in our region, from which Sutter began the Orthopedic Center of Excellence.
• Research conducted in the laboratory was pivotal in the development of the world's first orthopedic surgical robot, "ROBODOC."
• Sutter became the first hospital in the Western U.S. to use the Cryoprobe, a cryoablation device, to treat patients with liver cancer, after testing and training in the laboratory.
• Training for Sutter physicians and support personnel on the Da Vinci Surgical Robotic System.
• In recent years, the laboratory has collaborated with industry in the development of minimally invasive treatments for aortic valve disease and the treatment of mitral regurgitation.
• The SIMR laboratory routinely participates and collaborates in the development of new endovascular (cardiac, neuro, peripheral) devices and procedures including stents, wires, catheters, coils, cardiac electrophysiology, PFO closure, etc.
• SIMR supports regular training and ongoing development for numerous new and established medical procedures and technologies including: endoscopic instrumentation and imaging, orthopedic and spine surgery instrumentation and procedures, ultrasound imaging, hemostatic agents, treatment for chronic sinusitis, prostate surgery, sleep apnea and snoring, and obesity treatment.

Capabilities

• Endoscopy (research and multi-station training)
• Interventional Cardiology
• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Fluoroscopy
• Ultrasound Imaging
• Orthopedic
• Spinal
• Gastrointestinal
• Reproductive
• Urinary
• Laser Technologies
• Cryo Technologies
• Robotic Surgeries
• Emergency Medical Procedures
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

For more information about these services, call the Research Training Laboratory at (916) 733-1785.