Howorth Medical and the London Clinic - Creating Theatres for State-of-the-Art Robotic-Assisted Technology December 2005 Howorth Medical has announced completion of its first turnkey project with The London Clinic: the design and construction of a cutting-edge operating theatre, purpose-built to accommodate robotic surgery. Howorth Medical's Theatre and the da® Vinci Surgical System The London Clinic, one of the UK's most established independent hospitals, opened this, its newest and largest operating theatre, at the end of November 2005, bringing the total to 12. It will house the da Vinci® Surgical System, the latest advancement in robotic-assisted technology, which enables surgeons to treat prostate cancer by removing the prostate laparoscopically. For the majority of patients, this could mean less pain and blood loss following surgery and a faster recovery compared to conventional open surgery. Howorth Medical manufactures one of the world’s most advanced ultra-clean ventilation systems, the Exflow 90-5, with its unique graded velocity air profile. Its installation means the theatre will also be suitable for major orthopaedic surgery. A conventional arrangement was precluded by the exceptionally low ceiling height, which Howorth Medical overcame by the novel modification of the Exflow canopy to incorporate two separate operating lamps. Despite this challenge, the complete refurbishment took only 12 weeks from commencement to completion.
	Howorth Medical has been producing ultra-clean ventilation systems since 1961. It also manufactures medical service pendants and beams, theatre control panels and body exhaust units in addition to providing modular operating rooms, aseptic/clean rooms, TSSUs and ICUs, complete with all associated mechanical and electrical services.