The Manufacturing Director of a Leeds-based surgical device company recently gained direct experience of his company's products - on the operating table.

Paul Birtles of Surgical Innovations received emergency treatment for appendicitis with a laparoscopic system that his company manufactures.

Following the successful operation, Paul said: "Surgical Innovations have been trying to get me into surgery to see our products in action for five years now, and the only way they've succeeded is through a general anaesthetic!

"I have always had a huge fear of hospitals and in particular operating theatres, but having now experienced the instruments from the patient side I am keen to go into theatre and see how the operation is performed."

When 43-year-old Paul was diagnosed with appendicitis, the surgeons decided to remove his appendix by laparoscopic surgery, using the Surgical Innovations device YelloPort plus - which is designed and manufactured under Paul's management at the company's Leeds site.

Surgical Innovations supplies equipment for minimally invasive surgery and autologous blood transfusion. Paul joined the company as Manufacturing Director in 2005, and has played a major role in the development of its in-house manufacturing site.

Paul Birtles