Limbs & Things, the Bristol-based medical training products firm, has expanded its offering with the acquisition of a business specialising in keyhole surgery skills training.
Edinburgh-based eoSurgical is a market leader in the use of technology and self-directed learning in laparoscopic surgery, pictured.
Its simulators are entirely portable and the instrument-tracking software and on-line training portfolio is optimised for smartphones and tablets, allowing training to take place in dedicated simulation environments, in operating theatres or even at home.
Following the acquisition, Limbs & Things – which makes a wide range of pioneering medical task trainers at its St Philips factory – will incorporate eoSurgical’s products into its own existing portfolio of laparoscopic trainers, significantly broadening its offering in the marketplace.
eoSurgical’s simulators were developed by practicing consultant surgeons Roland Partridge, Paul Brennan and Mark Hughes and are used in more than 90 countries worldwide, including in the UK by the Royal College of Surgeons Improving Surgical Training Programme.
eoSurgical’s staff will now join the Limbs & Things team, continuing to contribute to the development of its products from their Edinburgh base.
Limbs & Things managing director Nick Hull, pictured, left, eoSurgical co-director Roland Partridge, with said the market for laparoscopic simulation training was buoyant and continuing to grow.
“We are already the proud partners of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons in the supply of simulation trainers for their Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery programme,” he added. 
“We are keen to invest further into this market space, which means that we can offer an even more accessible training experience with greater ability for self-directed training.
“It adds a further dimension to our current training range and ultimately helps to make patient outcomes safer and more reliable.”
eoSurgical co-director Roland Partridge said: “Limbs & Things is internationally recognised as one of the leading players in medical task trainers, so it is a fantastic opportunity for us to become part of its team and add to its product portfolio with our portable devices and innovative software portfolio.
“We’re excited by the potential that this next chapter offers both of our businesses and the marketplace.”
Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
Queen’s Award-winning Limbs & Things’ medical training products, which range from ‘arms’ with mock blood systems and birthing simulators, are used by specialists around the globe to address medical scenarios from routine examinations to emergency interventions.
It was launched in 1990 by medical illustrator Margot Cooper to meet a need for new ways of gaining clinical skills by medical professions.
Today it employs around 200 people, has offices in the US, Australia and Europe as well as the UK and exports its products to more than 50 countries worldwide.
