Publication of the article “RECOGNIZED PARTNER IN SURGERY” in Informations Entreprise Magazine

In the complex world of modern medicine, innovation and eco-responsibility are no longer choices but imperatives. Against this backdrop, Peters Surgical, a French ETI that has been working with caregivers for almost a century, is evolving between mastering and accompanying surgical needs through new minimally invasive and robotic approaches, and research into bio-based materials.

Informations Entreprise: Faced with a global shortage of medical personnel, how do your products and services contribute to improving efficiency and safety?

Thierry Herbreteau (CEO Peters Surgical): Faced with the crisis, as a manufacturer, we set out to gain recognition for the level of quality and reliability of our devices by obtaining MDR certification. Coming into force in May 2021, this regulation sets out the detailed requirements with which manufacturers of medical devices must comply. It significantly strengthens the previous regulations in place (Medical Device Directive), to ensure that devices are safe, efficient and effective, offering maximum protection to patients. Compliance with the MDR regulation is therefore of crucial importance, and few manufacturers to date have achieved it: proof of Peters Surgical’s ongoing commitment to excellence, and our dedication to providing caregivers and patients with high-quality, reliable medical devices that make a difference to their day-to-day work.

I.E: What initiatives are Peters Surgical taking to facilitate training for healthcare professionals in the use of its innovative medical devices?

Thierry Herbreteau: As part of our efforts to support surgeons, we have set up pragmatic training courses focusing on practical surgical procedures. These workshops, designed to be accessible within hospital establishments, enable young cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons to perfect precise gestures such as clamping, occluding vessels with haemostatic clips, or performing anastomoses with sutures. This fundamentally practical approach moves away from theoretical training to focus on mastery of the surgical gesture, using simulation equipment that closely mimics real-life conditions. We have developed these modules with a strong conviction: training and repetition of the gesture, similar to that of top-level athletes, are crucial to refining the technique and precision essential in the operating room. Our mission goes beyond simply supplying surgical equipment: we work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure the best possible use of our products, in the ultimate interest of patients.

I.E: How does Peters Surgical plan to incorporate advances in robotics and artificial intelligence into its medial devices?

Thierry Herbreteau: Current developments in surgery are characterized by two main trends with similar goals: robotization, aimed at improving the surgeon’s visibility and access for more precise gestures, and the rise of minimally invasive surgery, sought to reduce hospital stay time, often less traumatic, with smaller incisions, and improved aesthetic results for the patient.
Our company responds to these developments by supplying devices designed for robotic surgery, such as the cranial suture, or by designing articulated clamps for minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Our innovations reflect our determination to keep pace with global trends, helping to reduce post-operative risks, promote less invasive care and cut hospital stays, with a positive impact on healthcare system costs.

I.E: What innovations do Peters Surgical offer in the field of prostheses and implantable devices?

Thierry Herbreteau: We are at the forefront of innovation, particularly in the design of surgical adhesives. Aware of the importance of developing less invasive devices, we have developed a surgical glue that enables tissue or certain implants to be fixed in the human body without perforating tissue or organs with more traumatic devices (sutures, staples, screws). What’s more, our surgical glue resorbs over time, once the body has taken over the task of fixation.
Our ambition is to continue developing environmentally-friendly solutions. In this respect, we are studying innovative formulations based on bio-sourced components. This initiative illustrates our commitment to greener surgery, responding to a triple requirement: medical efficacy, the reduction of the postoperative device and greater ecological responsibility in the choice of raw materials.

I.E: How is Peters Surgical positioning itself in the face of the emergence of Surgery 4.0, and have you set up collaborations with other industry players?

Thierry Herbreteau: We keep a close eye on technological developments in the surgical sector, especially simulations of surgical gestures in environments such as the metaverse. However, despite the training potential of these innovations, they have yet to match the efficiency of our direct practice. We actively explore new technologies by collaborating with the start-up ecosystem and participating in specialized forums. The key to our advances lies in the collaboration between engineers and doctors, combining medical knowledge and engineering skills to produce noteworthy innovations. Our line of cardiac surgical sutures was co-developed in France with world-renowned expert Professor Carpentier. Our range of clamps, developed by our R&D team based in the United States, is the fruit of ongoing work with world leaders to develop our instruments for minimally invasive and robotic approaches. This synergy between industry experts and our R&D team is essential to creating solutions that are truly adapted to clinical needs.

I.E: What is Peters Surgical’s long-term vision for continuing to innovate in the field of medical devices?

Thierry Herbreteau: Peters Surgical’s strategy reflects a thorough understanding of global health challenges, adapting its offerings to the specific needs of each region. In some countries, the emphasis is on providing affordable care in response to the lack of universal health coverage, requiring products that are both adapted to high demand and economically viable.
In industrialized countries such as Western Europe and the United States, companies focus on integrating ecological considerations into their innovations. This approach manifests itself in the development of eco-designed products that minimize environmental impact by using less polluting, reusable and waste-reducing materials. This approach is in line with Peters Surgical’s objective of reducing the ecological footprint of the healthcare sector, which is responsible for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions in France, and testifies to its commitment to a future where health rhymes with sustainability and respect for the environment.

Bio Express

• 1926: Creation of Laboratoires Peters.
• 1951: First production of surgical sutures
• 1985: Creation of cardiovascular sutures with Prof. Alain Carpentier
• 2014: Acquisition of Vitalitec (Clips, Clamps and Surgical Glue)
• 2021 : Acquisition of German company Catgut GmBH (surgical sutures)

What they think 

Cardiac surgery benefits greatly from continuing education and the involvement of manufacturers, such as Peters Surgical, in the practical training of young surgeons. They offer specialized training workshops, such as manual suturing on ex vivo models. Their equipment, designed with particular attention to quality and ergonomics, and their integration into the Boot Camp – a training course for young cardiac surgeons organized by the SFCTCV – underpin a fruitful collaboration with the surgical community to improve the training and skills of future cardiac surgeons, reflecting a lasting and remarkable synergy.
Pr. André Vincentelli, Vice-President of the SFCTCV, French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Purchasing accounts for more than half of the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint. CAHPP stands out in France for its commitment to responsible purchasing assessment, certified by AFNOR with a level of “confirmed” for its focus on CSR. Through its Green Index, CAHPP evaluates the sustainability performance of its suppliers on an annual, contractual basis. In its 11th edition, the initiative examined over 469 suppliers in 12 sectors, offering transparency and encouraging sustainable development among the 3,300 partner healthcare institutions. Peters Surgical distinguished itself by receiving an A+ rating in 2023, testifying to its commitment to sustainable practices.
Anne DESAINT, Pharmacist DM/DMI negotiator. www.cahpp.eu