~ Versius is now in clinical use in thoracics and has been used in approximately 200 thoracic cases across across Europe, India and Australia to date
~ Versius is now in clinical use in thoracics and has been used in approximately 200 thoracic cases across across Europe, India and Australia to date
CMR Surgical (CMR) today announced the Versius Surgical Robotic System® has been indicated for thoracics to support surgeons providing minimally invasive surgery to patients undergoing operations in the lungs, thymus and oesophagus. Following a gradual introduction with specific case and procedure selection, Versius has now been used in both major and minor cases including oesophagomyotomies, lobectomies and thymectomies.
Through small incisions near the patients’ ribs, thoracic surgeons can work precisely and accurately in the chest cavity with Versius, benefitting from its small fully wristed instruments and 3D HD vision. The first site globally to begin a clinical programme with Versius in thoracics was Klinikum Chemnitz – a leading hospital in Saxony – which began the programme in early 2021.
Sven Seifert, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Thoracic, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Klinikum Chemnitz, said: “Thoracic surgeons have been waiting for quite some time for a system like this that can work with us in a patient’s stiff ribcage. Versius allows surgeons to operate on hard to reach areas with its wristed instruments, while sparing the patient’s chest wall. We were the first hospital in the world to use Versius for thoracics and are excited to now be working with international experts to pioneer the use of Versius in the speciality.”
In addition to Klinikum Chemnitz, Versius is also being used for thoracic procedures at a number of leading public and teaching hospitals around the world including Argenteuil Hospital in France, Policilinico di Milano in Italy, Galaxy Care and Manavata Hospital in India, as well as Macquarie University Hospital in Australia.
Patrick Bagan, Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon and Head of Department, Argenteuil Hospital, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the enhanced visualisation Versius offers, which means that we can be more precise. We have now done a number of successful cases on the system including mediastinal procedures, thymectomies and pulmonary resections for cancer.”
Joel Dunning, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at James Cook University Hospital and Versius preceptor, adds: “In thoracic surgery, the robotic approach is evolving rapidly and within five years it will be the predominant way that all lung cancer surgery is performed. I am delighted to have personally seen many thoracic robotic operations using the Versius system. It has small instruments, which we believe minimises the post-operative pain caused when operating through the ribcage. The system itself is small and more portable than other systems which means that it can fit into practically any operating room.”
Versius has been introduced into thoracic surgery in line with CMR Surgical’s collaboration with the IDEAL framework which provides an international benchmark for each stage of the surgical innovation process, including clinical trials and post-market surveillance.
Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer at CMR Surgical, said: “This is a hugely important milestone for Versius as we continue on our mission to make the benefits of minimal access surgery available for more patients around the world. Patients undergoing major surgeries for cases including lung cancer need to have the highest standard of care and we believe minimally invasive surgery, enabled by robotic technology, is the answer. We have followed the IDEAL framework to introduce Versius safely and responsibly into the specialty alongside leading surgeons in the field and are delighted to see it is proving it is well-suited for the complex needs of thoracic surgeons.”
ENDS
The Versius® Surgical Robotic System
Versius® resets expectations of robotic surgery. Versius fits into virtually any operating room set-up and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, increasing the likelihood of robotic minimal access surgery (MAS). The small, portable and modular design of Versius allows the surgeon to only use the number of arms needed for a given procedure.
Biomimicking the human arm, Versius gives surgeons the choice of optimised port placement alongside the dexterity and accuracy of small fully-wristed instruments. With 3D HD vision, easy-to adopt instrument control and a choice of ergonomic working positions, the open surgeon console has the potential to reduce stress and fatigue and allows for clear communication with the surgical team. By thinking laparoscopically and operating robotically with Versius, patients, surgeons and healthcare professionals can all benefit from the value that robotic MAS brings.
But it’s more than just a robot. Versius captures meaningful data with its wider digital ecosystem to support a surgeon’s continuous learning. Through the Versius Connect app, Versius Trainer and CMR clinical registry, Versius unleashes a wealth of insights to ultimately improve surgical care.
About CMR Surgical Limited
CMR Surgical (CMR) is a global medical devices company dedicated to transforming surgery with Versius®, a next-generation surgical robot.
Headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, CMR is committed to working with surgeons, surgical teams and hospital partners, to provide an optimal tool to make robotic minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable. With Versius, we are on a mission to redefine the surgical robotics market with practical, innovative technology and data that can improve surgical care.
Founded in 2014, CMR Surgical is private limited company backed by an international shareholder base.