Virtual Incision, a spin-out of the University of Nebraska that’s been developing a miniaturized robot for general surgery procedures, has announced that its device has been used in human patients for the first time. The successful colon resections were performed at a hospital in Asunción, Paraguay to demonstrate the safety and show applicability of the technology.
The Virtual Incision robot is actually positioned inside the abdomen via an umbilical incision. This is very different than the popular da Vinci system and a couple other robots that stay outside the body, but are used to deliver tools via laparoscopic ports. The Virtual Incision, therefore, is quite compact and doesn’t require a specialize operating room.
“Virtual Incision’s robotically assisted surgical device achieved proof-of-concept in highly complex abdominal procedures,” in a statement said head surgeon Dmitry Oleynikov, MD FACS, chief of minimally invasive surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and co-founder of Virtual Incision. “Additionally, we verified that our extensive regimen of bench, animal, cadaver, biocompatibility, sterilization, electrical safety, software, human factors and other testing enabled the safe use of this innovative technology.”
Take a look at this short video showing off the system:
Flashback: Virtual Incision Robot Hopes to Lower Cost of Robotic Surgery…
Link: Virtual Incision…