Asensus Surgical completes in vivo surgeon lab for LUNA surgical robotic system

Asensus Surgical, a medical device company that is digitizing the interface between the surgeon and the patient, has unveiled “a key development milestone” for LUNA, the company’s second-generation surgical robotic system.

During the week of December 11, 2023, the Company hosted a Surgeon Lab in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to conduct an in vivo evaluation of LUNA’s hardware, software and instruments in porcine models.

The lab allowed nine participating surgeons to evaluate the system’s functionality through thirteen different procedures across gynecology, urology, and general surgery.

Anthony Fernando, president and CEO of Asensus Surgical, provided a detailed update during a recent presentation, highlighting surgeon feedback on the innovative features of LUNA.

For a closer look at the Surgeon Lab and insights from the participating surgeons, a video is available on the Company’s website at https://ir.asensus.com/events-and-presentations.

The video provides an overview of the system’s features, demonstrating its dextrous 5mm TrueWrist instruments range, its unique surgeon console and its ergonomic benefits.

Anthony Fernando, president and CEO of Asensus Surgical, says: “The Surgeon Lab represents a crucial phase in the LUNA development journey.

“The positive response from the participating surgeons reaffirms our commitment to further developing and delivering a surgical robotic system that not only meets but exceeds expectations.

“The insights gathered will contribute to the refinement of this late-stage engineering prototype, moving us closer to a finalized product.

“We will provide further details on LUNA’s development and regulatory submission timeline during our upcoming earnings call to be scheduled to report on the fourth quarter and year end 2023.”

Dr Amit Trivedi, chair of the Department of Surgery, Pascack Valley Medical Center in New Jersey, says: “The LUNA system showcased an impressive arm range of motion and instrument dexterity, providing a level of precision that is essential in surgical procedures. The strength and reliability of the 5mm TrueWrist instrument line stood out, offering versatility with different instrument types.

“The ergonomic design of the LUNA surgeon console and the easy patient access are notable features. I look forward to seeing how the system evolves and the potential positive outcomes it may bring to surgery.”

LUNA is designed to elevate the standards of robotic-assisted surgery. The system integrates carefully crafted hardware and software architecture to prioritize safety, reliability, and performance.

LUNA’s features include a surgeon console with unconstrained handles, an interactive touchscreen, and an Ultra-HD 3D monitor. Additionally, the system boasts up to four independent robotic manipulator arms for procedural flexibility, alongside a unique instrument drive system supporting various advanced instrumentation options.

LUNA is currently under development and has not been submitted to, or cleared by, the US FDA or other global regulators, and is not available for sale in any market.