Covidien’s Project ADOPT: Moving The Needle On MIS

As a leader in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) products, Medtronic Minimally Invasive Therapies is known as an innovator in this field and a strong advocate for increased physician adoption of MIS techniques. However, despite the wealth of evidence demonstrating the benefits of MIS, less than 30% of the 15-20 million potential procedures of interest to Covidien’s advanced surgical technologies business are performed via a minimally invasive approach. Michael Tarnoff, MD, Covidien’s corporate chief medical officer, says industry has not significantly moved the needle on MIS adoption because industry-sponsored surgeon education programs have been missing a key component. During the company’s September 2013 Analyst Day presentation, Tarnoff discussed that key component and how Covidien hopes to fill the gaps in surgical education through Project ADOPT (Assuring and Defining Outcomes through Procedural Training), the company’s latest initiative for increasing physician adoption of MIS. To find out more, Medtech Insight spoke with Tarnoff, who provided additional details about Project ADOPT and how it ties in with the company’s plans to drive growth in this market.

Medtech Insight: During Covidien’s September 2013 Investor Day presentation, you discussed a new program, Project ADOPT, to enable new growth in minimally invasive therapies. Can you tell me a little...