Robotics & Automation News

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Distalmotion raises $90 million to accelerate adoption of its surgical robot

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Distalmotion has raised $90 million in Series E financing to support the global commercialization of its surgical robot Dexter.

Revival Healthcare Capital led the round with participation from 415 Capital, as well as existing investors.

CE-marked Dexter shifts the paradigm of robotic surgery by bringing the surgeon back into the sterile field, allowing direct patient access at all times and integrating proven laparoscopic workflows into the robotic setup. [Read more…] about Distalmotion raises $90 million to accelerate adoption of its surgical robot

Opinion: Predictions about the surgical robots market

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By Anthony Fernando, CEO and president of Asensus Surgical

Surgery has evolved from open surgery to robotic surgery. Surgical robots can perform complex procedures with geometrical precision, even in anatomical areas that are difficult to reach by human surgeons.

This is resulting in increased demand and adoption of minimally invasive surgeries and is one of the key drivers for the growth of the surgical robotics market.

So here are some predictions that foresee changes in the coming year within the surgical robotics market, telehealth and telesurgery, and augmented intelligence. [Read more…] about Opinion: Predictions about the surgical robots market

Activ Surgical completes first in-human procedures to demonstrate impact of its surgical intelligence and sensing platform

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Activ Surgical, a digital surgery company, has completed its first in-human surgery clinical trial utilizing the company’s technology-as-a-service bundle – the ActivInsights augmented reality-based software suite and the ActivSight imaging module.

Procedures for the study at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) were led by Dr Erik Wilson, professor in the Department of Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and a leading bariatric, endoluminal and robotic general surgeon; and Dr Shinil Shah, associate professor at UTHealth Houston and a preeminent general surgeon with expertise in advanced gastrointestinal surgery.

The safety and feasibility study was conducted across bariatric, colorectal and gallbladder procedures – surgeries in which intraoperative assessment of perfusion and anatomic structures are critical to prevent costly and life-threatening complications. [Read more…] about Activ Surgical completes first in-human procedures to demonstrate impact of its surgical intelligence and sensing platform

Explorer Surgical expands its digital platform into robotic surgery

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Explorer Live, a cloud-based digital platform customized for medical device companies to share best practices live with surgical teams, is expanding into robotic surgery, predicted to be the fastest-growing market for the next 10 years.

Medical robotics companies can now leverage Explorer Live, a digital platform featuring a first-of-its-kind procedural playbook, video capabilities and robust data collection to provide unparalleled support and insight into workflow and performance.

Robotic technology is transforming health care worldwide; enabling surgeons to perform cases with more precision and providing minimal downtime for the patient. But the increased learning curve in robotic surgeries presents a unique set of challenges for coordination and collaboration in the operating room. [Read more…] about Explorer Surgical expands its digital platform into robotic surgery

‘World’s first’ magnetic robotic-assisted surgeries performed with Levita Magnetics’ newest platform

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Levita Magnetics says “the first ever” robotic-assisted surgical procedures have been performed using the company’s newest system in development, the Levita Robotic Platform.

The first case was a reduced-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) completed by Dr Ignacio Robles, a minimally invasive surgeon at Clínica INDISA in Santiago, as part of a current clinical study of the system in Chile.

The new robotic platform is intended to deliver the clinical benefits of the company’s first commercial product, the Levita Magnetic Surgical System, including less pain, faster recovery and fewer scars for patients. The platform is intended to improve visualization, maintain surgeon control of instruments, and increase hospital efficiency with fewer assistive personnel required to conduct the procedures. [Read more…] about ‘World’s first’ magnetic robotic-assisted surgeries performed with Levita Magnetics’ newest platform

Think Surgical receives FDA clearance for new robot

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Think Surgical has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for its second-generation “active robot”.

Think Surgical is an innovator in the field of orthopedic active robot surgery, and says the FDA has cleared the its robotic system called TSolution One Total Knee Application.

The system features an active robot for total knee replacement, providing fully automated bone preparation, and gives surgeons a choice of implant options. [Read more…] about Think Surgical receives FDA clearance for new robot

BHS Technologies unveils RoboticScope to assist surgeons

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A Swiss company called BHS Technologies has unveiled a specially designed robot to assist surgeons, claiming it to be a world first.

“A high-precision robot, a high-resolution 3D camera and an innovative head-mounted display – the world’s first RoboticScope has arrived on the market,” says the company, adding that it “sets new standards in microsurgery”. 

Essentially, the system uses a head-mounted display to translate small head movements of the surgeon directly into movements of the robotic arm, enabling the surgeon to view exactly what they want. [Read more…] about BHS Technologies unveils RoboticScope to assist surgeons

Zimmer robotic surgery system found to improve accuracy

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A newly developed robotic surgery system has been found to improve surgeon accuracy in knee operations.

The Zimmer Biomet ROSA Knee System provides surgeons “an intuitive inference displaying planned resections throughout cuts and a validation tool to verify cuts’ accuracy in real-time”, says the company.

Zimmer Biomet is a Warsaw, Indiana-based company which designs and manufactures a range of musculoskeletal healthcare products. [Read more…] about Zimmer robotic surgery system found to improve accuracy

Opinion: Augmented and virtual reality ‘open up whole new world of opportunities’

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augmented-reality-glasses atheer

By Douglas Bruey, electrical engineering program lead at Synapse

At first glance, a gamer playing Pokémon Go has little in common with a surgeon saving lives in an operating theatre. But dig a little deeper and you’ll discover that might not be the case for much longer.

Augmented reality and virtual reality technologies are poised to open up a whole new world of opportunities. We’re already seeing the effects of VR when it comes to gaming. But in future could AR add a new dimension to surgery?

AR and VR both have the ability to alter our perception of the world. AR takes our current reality and adds something to it – virtual objects or information. VR, on the other hand, immerses us in a different – virtual – world.  [Read more…] about Opinion: Augmented and virtual reality ‘open up whole new world of opportunities’

The size of things to come: An exciting time for medical robotics

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In this exclusive article for Robotics and Automation News, Chris Wagner, head of advanced surgical systems at Cambridge Consultants, takes a microscopic look at the developments in medical robotics

This is an exciting time for medical robotics, as there is a proliferation of systems on the market or in development.

Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci, the long-time market leader for robotic laparoscopic procedures, now has potential competition from Medtronic, Verb Surgical (backed by Google and J&J), Auris Surgical, Transenterix’s ALF-X, and Titan Medical’s Sport system.

Similarly, the orthopaedics robot market is active with Stryker’s Mako platform, Think Surgical’s TCAT system, Mazor Robotics Renaissance system for spine surgery, and Blue Belt Technologies (now owned by Smith & Nephew) Navio system.

One interesting observation is of the physical size of the various systems as compared to the active operating volume of the robot.  [Read more…] about The size of things to come: An exciting time for medical robotics