CMR Surgical (CMR) – the global surgical robotics business – is making the Versius® Trainer simulator available on its virtual reality headsets through a new product, Versius Trainer in VR (VTVR).
VTVR will give surgeons the option of accessing simulator exercises using a VR headset and hand controllers. This means surgeons can become familiar with the Versius interface, anywhere at anytime.
In 2022, Versius began offering VR training as part of its surgical team training pathway; giving surgical teams increased flexibility to practice their skills setting up Versius. This latest update sees simulator exercises from the Versius Trainer added to the headsets via the VTVR platform.
Mark Slack, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of CMR Surgical, said: “We’re really proud of our leading metrics-based training pathway for Versius. But we want to make it as efficient and convenient as possible for surgeons and their teams”.
“I’m delighted that the Versius Trainer and its simulator exercises can be accessed using our VR headsets. This means a surgeon can do the training at a time and place convenient to them. We expect it will lead to a shorter learning curve and help surgeons to reach proficiency more quickly.”
Lukacs Veres, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, one of the first to use VTVR, said: “This is a fantastic tool for training with Versius. Especially if you have different speciality teams training at a similar time. If you have multiple headsets, you can take them home, practice at lunchtime, out of hours or at the weekend. It’s really convenient and will help to get surgeons trained more quickly.”
The Versius virtual reality headset is wireless, doesn’t require connecting to a PC and is packaged within a small box for portability and convenience.
CMR Surgical commissioned Surgical Science, one of the world’s leading suppliers of virtual reality simulators for medical training, to develop VTVR.
Gisli Hennermark, CEO of Surgical Science, said: “After the success of the Versius Trainer simulator it is rewarding to see how our embedded technology can be extended to ultra-portable solutions. Increasing accessibility to simulation is an important part of the adoption of surgical robotics in a patient safe manner”.
VTVR will now be rolled out globally as one of the steps on the CMR’s metrics-based training pathway. The pathway is a seven-step professional education programme for achieving proficiency with Versius, by assessing metrics and benchmarking captured through training technology tools and observational data.
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.
Supporting documents
