As 'Robot Wars' Kick-In, Is Robotic Surgery Ripe for an 'iPhone Moment'? (MDDI)
Is widespread adoption of surgical robots around the corner? The question is certainly timely given the recent developments in the sector. To name a few, in mid-September, CMR announced it raised $243 million in a Series C round, while reaching unicorn status. Two weeks later, Medtronic was unveiling Hugo to investors, its long-awaited robotic surgery system. Meanwhile, Verb Surgical, the joint venture between Johnson & Johnson and Verily, took on a new CEO ahead of market launch. As the range of offerings continue to expand, should we expect to see surgical robots in every OR soon? The answer is not quite yet.
On one hand, a lot has happened since Intuitive Surgical came to existence and launched the da Vinci. Today more than five million patients have benefited from robotic surgery. On the other hand, it is evident that some of the limits of legacy technologies remain, while new problems have appeared. In fact, surgeons still call for a truly flexible and modular solution, while costs continue to be the elephant in the room. Ergonomics is also an issue still. Not to mentio...
