Why a Two-Pound Robot is Getting Love from Investors
About two-thirds of colon resection procedures are performed via open surgery with an eight- to 12-inch incision and several weeks of recovery time. A miniature robotically assisted surgical device (RASD) developed by a company called Virtual Incision could change that.
Virtual Incision is just about ready to go to FDA seeking a 510(k) clearance for its two-pound RASD that operates entirely inside the body through a single abdominal incision and is expected to be less expensive and more portable than existing laparoscopic surgery robots. To help it get there, investors recently poured $18 million into the company.
New investor Sinopharm Capital and existing investor Bluestem Capital co-led the series B round, with participation from PrairieGold Venture Partners and others.
Clearly, the venture capital community recognizes the potential of this RASD, which features a strong, small, dexterous, and self-contained surgical robot that can be inserted through an umbilical incision in the patient's abdomen. The robotic platform also leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to track and guide instrument usage and to incorporate tools like the world's first robotic flex tip laparoscope, which is controlled by the surgeon.
But the company certainly did not accomplish all of that innovation overnight. CEO John Murphy told MD+DI about the technology's R&D journey, which has evolved through four generations before getting to this point.
"It's been a ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Amanda Pedersen Tags: Medical Device Business R & Source Type: news
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