CMR Surgical, a company that specializes in surgical robotics worldwide, made an announcement on March 22, 2023, that Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, a leading hospital in the treatment of heart and lung diseases and also a major transplant center in the U.K., has adopted the Versius Surgical Robotic System. This system will be used for thoracic procedures making Papworth hospital to be the first in the U.K. to do so.
Here’s the Complete Story
In order to perform more minimal access surgery, CMR Surgical designed Versius robotic system using Versius technology that mimics human arm joints but has up to four times more rotation than the human wrist. It is specially designed for thoracic surgeries, which include the heart, lungs, thymus, and esophagus.
The hospital stated that the aim of the device is to decrease the invasiveness of surgeries, enhance the results, and accelerate the recuperation period of patients. The hospital staff will receive comprehensive training, and the initial procedure is expected to commence.
According to Tim Glenn, Chief Finance Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Royal Papworth, “The vision is to provide tomorrow’s treatment to today’s patients, and purchasing this Versius robot does just that, representing a significant investment in patient care.”
CMR also highlighted surgeons across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and Latin America. It completed 5,000 surgeries around the world in 2022 using Versius technology. Moreover, Versius is being used for clinical purposes in thoracic surgeries, and it has been utilized in roughly 200 thoracic surgeries in Europe, India, and Australia so far.
How are thoracic surgeries being performed using Versius technology?
The Versius system allows for minimally invasive thoracic surgery, which means that small incisions are made in the chest instead of a large incision. This approach results in less pain, reduced blood loss, and a quicker recovery time for the patient.
During thoracic surgery using the Versius system, the surgeon sits at the console and controls the robotic arms. The robotic arms are equipped with specialized instruments that allow the surgeon to perform precise movements in tight spaces. The instruments can be rotated and positioned in a way that is difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional surgical tools.
The surgeon uses a 3D high-definition monitor to visualize the surgical site, and the robotic arms provide a magnified view of the area being operated on. The Versius system also has haptic feedback, which allows the surgeon to feel the pressure and resistance of the tissue being operated on, providing a more natural and intuitive experience.
This system has been used for various thoracic procedures, including lung biopsies, lobectomies, and thymectomies. The precise movements and improved visualization provided by the system can help reduce the risk of complications and improve surgical outcomes.
How is surgical robotics impacting the healthcare industry?
The first robotic surgical system approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in surgery was the da Vinci Surgical System, which was approved for general laparoscopic surgery in 2000.
Since then, the use of robotic systems in surgery has grown rapidly, and they are now used in a wide range of surgical procedures, including gynecologic, urologic, cardiac, and orthopedic surgery.
According to the BIS Research report, the global surgical robotics market was valued at $8.70 billion in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $18.41 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 7.78% during the forecast period 2022-2032.
One of the major opportunities in the global surgical robotics market is the rise in demand for minimally invasive surgeries, along with an increased demand for robotic-assisted surgeries and growing collaboration within the surgical robotics industry.
Moreover, there are several noteworthy trends in the market, including advancements in medical surgery technology, such as the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the introduction of telerobotics, and the greater utilization of microsurgery techniques.
Conclusion
Adam Peryt, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at Royal Papworth, stated, “Thoracic surgeons have long been waiting for a surgical robot like Versius that is suited to their specific needs.”
He further added, “Of course, we want all the benefits you’d expect of robotic-assisted surgery, but we also needed a system that allows us to continue using small instruments and ports that we can place exactly where needed given the limitations of operating through the ribcage. Versius gives us this.”
The utilization of this medical technology in the government sector is expected to reduce distrust among the general public and demonstrate how automation can positively impact individuals and their job responsibilities.
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