LifeHealthcare’s new technology to bring paradigm shift in surgical robotics

MedTech News: LifeHealthcare in partnership with UK’s CMR Surgical (CMR), announced the launch of its first Versius Surgical Robotic System in Australia, following approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), for use in gynaecological, urologic and general surgery laparoscopic procedures.

Australia is one of five countries in the world to gain access to this new technology, with Versius recently installed at Macquarie University Hospital in Sydney.

Professor David Gillatt, Director of Medical and Surgical Services and a Urological Surgeon at Macquarie University Hospital said “The Versius system is easy to set up and offers improved movement and communication for surgeons. From a patient perspective, robotically assisted surgery can potentially mean reduced pain, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. I look forward to seeing more hospitals and patients being able to benefit from this new technology in the near future.”

Australia is a highly advanced surgical robotics market where robotic assisted minimal access surgery (MAS) has been used for nearly two decades. The launch of Versius represents a significant opportunity to progress this further and drive greater uptake of MAS across the region.

Mr Walter Kmet, CEO Macquarie University Hospital, said “We continually invest in state-of-the art technology to improve patient outcomes. This is a very exciting development for Macquarie University Hospital. Our team are the first in Australia and among a number of pioneering sites in the world to offer this new, innovative type of robotic surgery.”

A recent first-in-human interim safety analysis demonstrated that the Versius Surgical System is safe and can be used to successfully perform minor or intermediate gynaecological and general surgery procedures. This evidence supported the extension of the Versius clinical trial to recruit patients for major procedures.

Versius has been designed to mimic the human arm, providing seven degrees of freedom inside the patient. This feature, coupled with the device portability, enables flexibility in both the set-up and surgical approach for each procedure. Furthermore, the open surgeon console has 3D vision, instrument control and a choice of ergonomic working positions, which aims to reduce stress and fatigue for surgeons and the surgical team. Addressing these surgeon concerns remain critical for career longevity.

Modular and versatile, the Versius Surgical Robotic System can be quickly moved between operating rooms allowing surgeons and hospitals to maximise the number of procedures the system can perform. Once in the operating theatre, Versius can be set-up within 15 minutes.

Traditionally, training for laparoscopic surgery has been associated with a steep learning curve and a long training period. This has resulted in reduced uptake, and ultimately, fewer patients benefitting from
minimally invasive surgery. The design features of the Versius system have the potential to ease the education pathway, elevating access to minimally invasive procedures.

Matt Muscio, Chief Executive Officer, LifeHealthcare commented “Australia has always been an early adopter of new technology, making it an ideal early market for Versius. We are seeing strong demand for Versius and look forward to working with hospitals and surgeons to bring this transformative new technology to Australian patients.”

In partnership with CMR, LifeHealthcare is offering comprehensive training and ongoing support for the surgeons and wider surgical teams.

To ensure that all Australian hospitals have the potential to benefit from robotic surgery using Versius, LifeHealthcare has partnered with CMR Surgical to develop a number of flexible models for the introduction of Versius, supporting the ongoing adoption of the system.