UK developed surgical robot set for NHS debut

The so-called Versius system, which consists of individual cart-mounted robotic arms that are remotely operated by a surgeon, has been developed to perform a variety of surgical procedures from laparoscopic prostectomies to hernia repair.

Minimally invasive surgery has significant advantages over traditional open surgery including a reduced risk of infection and much faster recovery times and has inspired a number of robotic developments over the years including, most notably, the US developed Da Vinci system, which is now used in a number of hospitals around the UK.

However, owing to the size and cost of existing systems, application of the technology is limited and millions of procedures that could be performed using minimal access surgery are still carried out using open surgery techniques.

CMR’s CEO Martin Frost claims that thanks to its compact size and relatively low cost, Versius could transform the market for surgical robotics. “There are six million people a year who get open surgery,” he said. “That shouldn’t be necessary any more, but it is because minimally invasive surgery is hard to deliver. Versius is sufficiently versatile that it can help perform the vast majority of laparoscopic cases and do that in a way that fits naturally into the operating room, is easy to work with and does it all at an affordable price.”