COMPANY

Company

Overall

VITCAL Co., Ltd. is a medical device company that develops and manufactures laparoscopic equipment and laparoscopic surgical instruments. It was established in June 2022 by Professor Seong-Ho Kong, who is in the Department of Surgery at Seoul National University Hospital.

The laparoscopic system is the most basic and important equipment that provides a surgical field of view in various minimally invasive surgeries in which operations are performed through small holes instead of a long incision in the body.

VITCAL Co., Ltd. is developing high-definition, future-oriented laparoscopic systems to deliver clear visual information to surgeons and surgical teams so that successful surgery can be performed.

VITCAL Co., Ltd. is always listening to the experiences of the medical staff who use the devices in the operative rooms and tries to make the most user-friendly products to meet the need of the medical staff. We will also continue our research and development to develop new functional and convenient devices to enable safer and more effective surgery in line with the flow of the new scientific revolution.

CEO

Greetings

Everyone will agree that one of the most important surgical innovations in modern surgery is “minimally invasive surgery” represented by laparoscopic surgery. In many types of surgery, laparoscopic surgery is performed as the primary treatment method instead of open surgery as it has proven to show comparable results to open surgery, while significantly reducing post-operative pain and enabling rapid activity.

The challenge spirit and the effort for research of the surgeons and the contribution of many patients who participated in clinical trials were the main motivities to establish minimally invasive surgery, but it was also supported by the advance in laparoscopic systems and surgical instruments. The laparoscopic system assists the surgeon’s eyes by illuminating a dark internal space through a small hole, and laparoscopic surgical instruments help the surgeon’s hands in an environment of limited movement.

Compared to the early laparoscopic systems, the latest devices have made rapid progress to provide high-resolution image quality and clear and bright images. In addition, advanced functions including near-infrared fluorescence imaging or artificial intelligence are also being installed or planned to be installed in the laparoscopic system, with R&Ds being actively conducted. However, as the performance of the device increases, the price also increases. So not all high-performance laparoscopic devices may not be readily available to surgeons. Even from a global perspective, laparoscopic surgery is not widely used due to the burden of cost, and there are still many regions that do not receive the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.

VITCAL Co., Ltd. was established to develop and distribute high-performance laparoscopic equipment at an appropriate cost so that more people can enjoy the advantages of minimally invasive surgery and the latest engineering technology. Since the surgeon is in charge of the CEO position, we can accurately understand and collect the actual needs in the operation room from surgeons and medical staff. We are working hard to develop devices that can make minimally invasive surgery more sophisticated and safer using our own technology that is free from royalty issues.

VITCLA Co., Ltd. considers the health and happiness of patients as the most important purpose, and will always listen to the opinions of medical staff. We will always do our best to ensure that the best science and technology are used in the operating room to provide the best and most enjoyable surgery.

Thank you.

CEO Seong-Ho KONG

Major Research

Professor Seong-Ho KONG has published about 160 papers as of 2022 by leading and participating in a wide spectrum of clinical research and translational research about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of gastric cancer, benign gastrointestinal diseases, and bariatric/metabolic surgery.

History of Research Project Performance (Supported Institution)

Development of an immune probe targeting c-KIT-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors for near-infrared fluorescence-guidance endoscopy and image-induced surgery (National Research Foundation of Korea)
A prospective cohort study evaluating the feasibility of patient-specific gastric cancer surgery using indocyanine green fluorescence navigation for the perigastric lymph node basins (Stryker Korea Co., Ltd.)
A randomized clinical trial comparing different energy-based devices in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients (Medtronic Co., Ltd)
Development of a laparoscopic surgical cooperative assistance robot system consisting of a motion assistance robot capable of free position development and a control assistance robot to assist the surgeon's surgery (Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology)
Development of an artificial intelligence-based surgical assistance robot system for laparoscopic solo surgery (National Research Foundation of Korea)
Development of laparoscopic and endoscopic simulation models and measurement software for tailored gastric surgery using 3D printing technology and medical imaging software (Seoul National University Hospital)
Development of technology for highly sensitive and selective detection of VOC related to digestive cancer (Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology)
Development of tailored non-invasive diagnosis and treatment options using specific near-infrared molecules in patients with gastric malignant tumour (Seoul National University Hospital)
Evaluation of function and viability of intraabdominal vagus nerves by intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring in gastrectomy (Seoul National University Hospital)
Development of human stomach-on-a-chip for gastric diseases simulation and drug screening (Seoul National University Hospital)
Evaluation of efficacy of Liposome (M-ResQ)-based immuno-anticancer drug in gastric cancer model (Dandi Bioscience Co., Ltd.)
A study on the Dead-box helicase (DDX) gene that promotes gastric cancer progression through RNA maturation process (National Research Foundation of Korea)
Efficacy and safety of temporary pyloric dilatation by intraoperative PraBotulinum toxin A Injection for the improvement of Gastric Emptying immediate after Pylorus Preserving Gastrectomy: Multicenter Prospective randomized controlled trial (BIGEPPG trial) (Daewoong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
Development of a prediction model for lymph node metastasis by region in gastric cancer patients (Seoul National University Hospital)

Publications about Medical Devices

Park JH, Berlth F, Wang C, Wang S, Choi JH, Park SH et al. Mapping of the perigastric lymphatic network using indocyanine green fluorescence imaging and tissue marking dye in clinically advanced gastric cancer. European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 2022 Feb;48(2):411-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2021.08.029

Barberio M, Pizzicannella M, Spota A, Ashoka AH, Agnus V, Al Taher M et al. Preoperative endoscopic marking of the gastrointestinal tract using fluorescence imaging: submucosal indocyanine green tattooing versus a novel fluorescent over-the-scope clip in a survival experimental study. Surgical Endoscopy. 2021 Sep;35(9):5115-5123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-07999-2

Jeong K, Kong SH, Bae SW, Park CR, Berlth F, Shin JH et al. Evaluation of near-infrared fluorescence-conjugated peptides for visualization of human epidermal receptor 2-overexpressed gastric cancer. Journal of Gastric Cancer. 2021 Jun;21(2):191-202. https://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2021.21.e18

Park SH, Lee HJ, Park JH, Kim TH, Son YG, Huh YJ et al. Clinical Significance of Intra-operative Gastroscopy for Tumor Localization in Totally Laparoscopic Partial Gastrectomy. Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery. 2021 May;25(5):1134-1146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-020-04809-x

Marchegiani F, Noll E, Riva P, Kong SH, Saccomandi P, Vita G et al. Effects of Warmed and Humidified CO2 Surgical Site Insufflation in a Novel Experimental Model of Magnetic Compression Colonic Anastomosis. Surgical Innovation. 2021 Feb;28(1):7-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/1553350620967225

Legner A, Kong SH, Liu YY, Shabat G, Halvax P, Saadi A et al. The GAMMA concept (gastrointestinal activity manipulation to modulate appetite) preliminary proofs of the concept of local vibrational gastric mechanical stimulation. Surgical Endoscopy. 2020 Dec 1;34(12):5346-5353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-07325-5

Ashoka AH, Kong SH, Seeliger B, Andreiuk B, Soares RV, Barberio M et al. Near-infrared fluorescent coatings of medical devices for image-guided surgery. Biomaterials. 2020 Dec;261. 120306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120306

Park SH, Berlth F, Choi JH, Park JH, Suh YS, Kong SH et al. Near-infrared fluorescence-guided surgery using indocyanine green facilitates secure infrapyloric lymph node dissection during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Surgery Today. 2020 Oct 1;50(10):1187-1196. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-020-01993-w

Park SJ, Lee EJ, Kim SI, Kong SH, Jeong CW, Kim HS. Clinical desire for an artificial intelligence-based surgical assistant system: Electronic survey-based study. JMIR Medical Informatics. 2020 May;8(5). e17647. https://doi.org/10.2196/17647

Park SH, Suh YS, Park JH, Kim TH, Son YG, Huh YJ et al. Near-infrared image-guided laparoscopic omental flap for breast cancer. Asian journal of endoscopic surgery. 2020 Apr 1;13(2):250-255. https://doi.org/10.1111/ases.12709

Pop R, Kong SH, Langlois A, Marchegiani F, Shlomovitz E, Legnèr A et al. Gastrointestinal Hormones Manipulation to Counteract Metabolic Syndrome Using Duodenal Targeted Embolization. Surgical Innovation. 2019 Jun 1;26(3):280-292. https://doi.org/10.1177/1553350619838098

Huh YJ, Lee HJ, Kim TH, Choi YS, Park JH, Son YG et al. Efficacy of Assessing Intraoperative Bowel Perfusion with Near-Infrared Camera in Laparoscopic Gastric Cancer Surgery. Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. 2019 Apr 1;29(4):476-483. https://doi.org/10.1089/lap.2018.0263

Kong SH, Kim SM, Kim DG, Park KH, Suh YS, Kim TH et al. Intraoperative neurophysiologic testing of the perigastric vagus nerve branches to evaluate viability and signals along nerve pathways during gastrectomy. Journal of Gastric Cancer. 2019 Mar;19(1):49-61. https://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2019.19.e2

Kong SH, Marchegiani F, Soares R, Liu YY, Suh YS, Lee HJ et al. Fluorescence lymphangiography-guided full-thickness oncologic gastric resection. Surgical Endoscopy. 2019 Feb 15;33(2):620-632. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6402-y

Zhu C, Kong SH, Kim TH, Park SH, Ang RRG, Diana M et al. The anatomical configuration of the splenic artery influences suprapancreatic lymph node dissection in laparoscopic gastrectomy: analysis using a 3D volume rendering program. Surgical Endoscopy. 2018 Aug 1;32(8):3697-3705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6201-5

Diana M, Noll E, Legnèr A, Kong SH, Liu YY, Schiraldi L et al. Impact of valve-less vs. standard insufflation on pneumoperitoneum volume, inflammation, and peritoneal physiology in a laparoscopic sigmoid resection experimental model. Surgical Endoscopy. 2018 Jul 1;32(7):3215-3224. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6039-x

Kim TH, Kong SH, Park JH, Son YG, Huh YJ, Suh YS et al. Assessment of the completeness of lymph node dissection using near-infrared imaging with indocyanine green in laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Journal of Gastric Cancer. 2018 Jun;18(2):161-171. https://doi.org/10.5230/jgc.2018.18.e19

Liu YY, Liao CH, Diana M, Wang SY, Kong SH, Yeh CN et al. Near-infrared cholecystocholangiography with direct intragallbladder indocyanine green injection: preliminary clinical results. Surgical Endoscopy. 2018 Mar 1;32(3):1506-1514. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-017-5838-9

Kong SH, Kim TH, Huh YJ, Oh SY, Ahn HS, Park SY et al. A feasibility study and technical tips for the use of an articulating bipolar vessel sealer in da Vinci robot-assisted gastrectomy. Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. 2017 Nov;27(11):1172-1179. https://doi.org/10.1089/lap.2017.0093

Kong SH, Haouchine N, Soares R, Klymchenko A, Andreiuk B, Marques B et al. Robust augmented reality registration method for localization of solid organs’ tumors using CT-derived virtual biomechanical model and fluorescent fiducials. Surgical Endoscopy. 2017 Jul 1;31(7):2863-2871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-016-5297-8

Paulus CJ, Haouchine N, Kong SH, Soares RV, Cazier D, Cotin S. Handling topological changes during elastic registration: Application to augmented reality in laparoscopic surgery. International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery. 2017 Mar 1;12(3):461-470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-016-1502-4

Diana M, Liu YY, Pop R, Kong SH, Legnèr A, Beaujeux R et al. Superselective intra-arterial hepatic injection of indocyanine green (ICG) for fluorescence image-guided segmental positive staining: experimental proof of the concept. Surgical Endoscopy. 2017 Mar 1;31(3):1451-1460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-016-5136-y

Oh SY, Choi B, Lee KG, Choe HN, Lee HJ, Suh YS et al. Ultrasonically Activated Shears Reduce Blood Loss without Increasing Inflammatory Reactions in Open Distal Gastrectomy for Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Study. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2017 Feb 1;24(2):494-501. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-016-5518-3

Han TS, Hur K, Choi B, Lee JY, Byeon SJ, Min J et al. Improvement of anti-cancer drug efficacy via thermosensitive hydrogel in peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric cancer. Oncotarget. 2017;8(65):108848-108858. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.22312

Diana M, Robinet E, Liu YY, Legnèr A, Kong SH, Schiraldi L et al. Confocal Imaging and Tissue-Specific Fluorescent Probes for Real-Time In Vivo Immunohistochemistry. Proof of the Concept in a Gastric Lymph Node Metastasis Model. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2016 Dec 1;23:567-573. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4928-y

Soares RV, Molos M, Donepudi P, Kong SH, Swanstrom LL. Transgastric hybrid surgery for the flexible endoscopist: early experience with the TAGSS system. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 2016 Nov 1;84(5):852-853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2016.05.033

Liu YY, Kong SH, Diana M, Lègner A, Wu CC, Kameyama N et al. Near-infrared cholecysto-cholangiography with indocyanine green may secure cholecystectomy in difficult clinical situations: proof of the concept in a porcine model. Surgical Endoscopy. 2016 Sep 1;30(9):4115-4123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4608-9

Sohn SY, Lee DR, Lee SK, Kim H, Suh YS, Kong SH et al. WiLD: Widening view angle for lesion detection with gastroscopic images. In 2016 IEEE International Conference on Communications, ICC 2016. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2016. 7511600. (2016 IEEE International Conference on Communications, ICC 2016). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICC.2016.7511600

Liu YY, Pop R, Diana M, Kong SH, Lègner A, Beaujeux R et al. Real-time fluorescence angiography by intra-arterial indocyanine green injection to identify obscure gastrointestinal bleeding territory: proof of concept in the porcine model. Surgical Endoscopy. 2016 May 1;30(5):2143-2150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4460-y

Kong SH, Diana M, Liu YY, Lee HJ, Legner A, Soares R et al. Novel method for hybrid endo-laparoscopic full-thickness gastric resection using laparoscopic transgastric suture passer device. Surgical Endoscopy. 2016 Apr 1;30(4):1683-1691. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4375-7

Kong SH, Noh YW, Suh YS, Park HS, Lee HJ, Kang KW et al. Evaluation of the novel near-infrared fluorescence tracers pullulan polymer nanogel and indocyanine green/γ-glutamic acid complex for sentinel lymph node navigation surgery in large animal models. Gastric Cancer. 2015 Jan;18(1):55-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10120-014-0345-3

Noh YW, Kong SH, Choi DY, Park HS, Yang HK, Lee HJ et al. Near-infrared emitting polymer nanogels for efficient sentinel lymph node mapping. ACS Nano. 2012 Sep 25;6(9):7820-7831. https://doi.org/10.1021/nn301949y

Kong SH, Oh BM, Yoon H, Ahn HS, Lee HJ, Chung SG et al. Comparison of two- and three-dimensional camera systems in laparoscopic performance: A novel 3D system with one camera. Surgical Endoscopy. 2010 May;24(5):1131-1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-009-0740-8

Leaders

TO BE UPDATED...

History

HISTORY

2022

11.16.

11.02.

10.28.

06.16.

06.03.

04.15.

Seoul National University Hospital signs technology transfer agreement

Venture company certification approved

Start-up company certification approved

Small and Medium-sized Enterprise(SME) certification approved

VITCAL Co., Ltd. Established

Seoul National University Hospital startup approval

CI

Mission

"Let the lights shine in darkness .."

We create surgical devices that provide the best surgical environment for surgeons and allow more people to benefit from cutting-edge surgical technology.

Vision

Show better what is supposed to be seen

Make invisible medical information visible

Produce the optimal surgical equipment fit for each medical environment

0ne of the most basic things surgeons need to make surgery safe and enjoyable is to look good. We will constantly seek the best quality and color that medical staff can satisfy.

Through advanced technologies such as fluorescence imaging technology and artificial intelligence, we will visualize various medical information such as cancer cells and blood flow that are invisible to the general view to keep pace with the paradigm shift in surgery.

Tertiary medical institutions responsible for surgical innovation may need high-performance devices with cutting-edge technology for new research, and the primary and secondary medical institutions that are in charge of essential surgical services may require more cost-effective devices. We will prepare multiple lineups according to the need of different environment to support the qualitative and quantitative development of minimally invasive surgery at the same time.

Core Value

Basics and Safety

Surgeon- and

Patient-Centered

Innovation and Cooperation

Prioritize the improvement of basic core performance and safety of medical devices.

Actively seek out and listen to the needs of the medical field. Feel rewarded and sympathetic to the satisfaction of the medical staff and the happiness of the patients.

Constantly create innovative ideas and cooperate with experts to overcome the limitations of modern surgical care.

Professionalism and Companionship

Pursue honesty and excellency and help and learn from each other so that we can grow together.

Humanity and Service

Deliberate about appropriate technologies so that more people around the world can benefit from modern surgical care.

Logo System

Name of the company

VITCAL was named composing 'vit' and 'cal'. 'Vit' sounds similar to a Korean word meaning the 'light', and means ‘vital’ at the same time. 'Cal' is from 'calculation' implying our intend to interpretate, calculate, and provide diverse medical information for surgeons in a visual output.

We will try to deliver the most effective and comfortable visual information needed for operations to surgeons using cutting-edge optical technology and artificial intelligence.

Symbol Mark

Logotype

English_Logotype_01

English_Logotype_02

English_Logotype_03

Signature

Partner

PARTNER

Partner Hospital

To Be Updated...

Patent Corporation

To Be Updated...