about us

Virtual Ports is dedicated to streamlining and advancing laparoscopic surgical procedures through the use of its proprietary MicroAnchoring™ technology to enable secure organ retraction and optimal organ visualization using exceptionally small-profile laparoscopic devices.

Company
Profile

Laparoscopic surgery has taken a prominent place in surgery, with an estimated 15 million laparoscopic procedures performed each year worldwide.* Although the procedures have become the standard, they present a challenge for surgeons: how to perform the requisite tasks via smaller incisions and using fewer ports.

Virtual Ports designs and manufactures the only specialized retraction devices capable of using 5mm existing ports to retract organs entirely from within the body cavity to help surgeons overcome this challenge and to achieve a higher level of performance during laparoscopic surgeries.

Visualizing the target tissue is of paramount importance during laparoscopic procedures but is often compromised by organs and soft tissue overlaying the desired anatomy. Through the use of proprietary MicroAnchoring technology, the Virtual Ports exceptionally small-profile devices provide secure laparoscopic organ retraction and “declutter” the laparoscopic workspace for optimal visualization.

The MicroAnchoring concept grew out of a collaboration between leading Israeli and American surgeons to meet the following goals:

to eliminate the dedicated port for organ retraction to improve patient outcomes  to lower direct labor and surgical materials costs

The Virtual Ports EndoGrab™ and EndoLift™ port-free retractors were registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 and received the CE mark in 2009.

The EndoClear™ endocavity laparoscope cleaning station received FDA clearance in 2008.

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Clinical applications for the Virtual Ports family of tools include general surgery; cholecystectomy; bariatric, oncologic, gynecologic, and urologic surgeries; colon resection; robotic; and single-port surgery. Since their introduction, these novel products have been used in more than 20,000 procedures worldwide and have been incorporated into surgical practice at leading medical centers in the United States.

Board of Directors

Tovy Sivan
Chairman of the Board
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Tovy Sivan has an extensive background in developing and manufacturing medical products. In 1998, he founded STI Laser Industries Ltd., the pioneer in Israel developing leading-edge laser-processing technologies for manufacturing high-precision medical components. The company provides the engineering and manufacturing platform for new medical device projects (specifically implants and custom tooling) and offers OEM services to medical component companies around the world. Prior to founding STI, Tovy served as VP Business Development at Hamavlet Metal Works. In addition, he is the co-founder of six start-ups, including V-Wave, Amsel Medical, and Meditate. For 23 years, Tovy served as a pilot in the Israel Air Force. He received an MBA and a BSc in mechanical engineering, both from the New York Institute of Technology.
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Tamir Ben David
PhD, President and Director
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Tamir Ben David, PhD, joined Virtual Ports in 2016. He brings 17 years of medical device management and entrepreneurial experience. Prior to joining Virtual Ports, Tamir was the CEO of BSP, GM of Cerebomed, Division VP at BioControl, and Deal Flow Manager at Israel HealthCare Ventures, a life sciences venture fund. He founded Cogniguard and currently serves as the CEO of VibeMedic, an innovation hub focusing on new technologies for medical implants and surgical tooling. He is also the president of OB-Tools, a company developing new technologies for labor and delivery monitoring. Tamir holds a PhD (with honors) in physics and received his MBA from Tel Aviv University. He filed more than 90 patents, covering medical device technologies, nerve and tissue stimulation, signal processing, control systems, and broadcasting.
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Management
Team

Yuval Yaskil
CEO
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Yuval Yaskil joined Virtual Ports in 2021. With more than 15 years of medical device management and entrepreneurial experience, Yuval Yaskil connects the freethought of innovation with ta firm grasp on industrial methodologies and accurate processes. Prior to joining Virtual Ports, Mr. Yaskil was the founder and CEO of several biotech companies and has a legacy of development, manufacturing and realization of groundbreaking medical technologies. “Thinking of a great idea is only the start in creating a successful company. The tough job is completing the development and creating a manufacturing process which meets the quality and regulatory standards, all while keeping a watchful eye on the everchanging evolving market and needs, so that when you finally have a product ready to sell, you know who your customers are and what it takes to convince them to buy your product.”
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Dr. Shani Eliyahu-Gross
CTO
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Dr. Shani Eliyahu Gross joined Virtual Ports in 2022. Prior to Virtual Ports, Dr. Eliyahu was the CTO of several Medical device companies, including OCON healthcare and Core Scientific Creations. With a Ph.D. and Post-Doc. In Chemical Engineering from the Beer Sheba University in Israel and an M.SC in Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Shani Eliyahu Gross brings significant academic and scientific background to Virtual Ports. Shani Eliyahu Gross specializes in the complexities involved in bringing new medical technologies to market, including R&D methodologies, International regulatory stipulations (Including the new CE MDR) and manufacturing methods required in bringing products to market.
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Ludmila Dasaeva
VP of Business Development
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VP of Business Development
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ADVISORY
BOARD

Michael J. Leinwand
MD, FACS, FAAP
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Michael J. Leinwand is a pediatric surgeon, Director of Surgical Innovation, Bronson Children’s Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He has a “true passion for innovative minimally invasive surgical techniques.” At Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in Kalamazoo, He serves as an Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, and as an Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
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Yoav Mintz
MD
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Prof. Yoav Mintz is the Director of the Robotic Assisted Surgery Program at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem. A leader in the development of single-port surgery, robotic-assisted surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in Israel, Prof. Mintz serves on the NOTES Task Force and the Technology Committee of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES).
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