EndoQuest Robotics announced today that it plans to integrate Nvidia’s IGX Thor platform into its next-generation surgical robotic system.
Nvidia designed IGX Thor for more computing power, better energy efficiency and awareness compared to previous platforms. This marks the latest surgical robotics partnership for IGX Thor, after CMR Surgical announced its planned integration yesterday.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech also shared new advances in surgical robotic technology with physical AI capabilities through Nvidia this week. Nvidia also has existing surgical robotics partnerships with companies like Karl Storz’s Asensus, Moon Surgical, Virtual Incision, Neptune Surgical and Stereotaxis.
Houston-based EndoQuest develops its Endoluminal Surgical (ELS) system. It designed the surgical robot platform to address unmet needs in GI and other endoluminal surgeries. The system can deliver precision and flexibility to improve patient outcomes. The company says it enables endoluminal procedures with the visualization, precision and main tenets of conventional surgical techniques. It allows for surgical tasks and maneuvers not currently possible in advanced therapeutic endoscopy.
The proprietary technology navigates and performs procedures within the body’s lumina spaces, allowing for minimally invasive interventions. It makes it possible for therapeutic endoscopists and surgeons to operate through a trans-oral or trans-anal approach.
The FDA granted investigational device exemption (IDE) for the system last December. In May, the company announced the first colorectal cases in the trial, then reported its first gastroenterologist-performed case earlier this month.
More about the deal between EndoQuest and Nvidia
EndoQuest said its collaboration with Nvidia focuses on integrating its visualization system, robotic control and secure cloud services using Nvidia’s accelerated computing and software stack. That includes Holoscan, CUDA and AI Enterprise, all Nvidia offerings.
According to a news release, the companies hope to deliver real-time image processing, robotic control and cloud-enabled intelligence in a unified architecture.
As part of the initiative, EndoQuest plans to leverage Nvidia technology for low-latency sensor processing and 3D visualization, precise and time-synchronized motion control and secure cloud connectivity. This supports fleet management, data services and AI deployment, the company said.
Findings from the collaboration’s work can help guide the company’s product development and commercialization strategy for future robots.
“By powering our visualization, control and secure cloud services with NVIDIA’s industry-leading technology, we aim to streamline our system architecture for performance, reliability and clinical scalability,” said Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of EndoQuest Robotics. “This unified architecture is critical to advancing our technology for endoluminal robotic surgery and reaching commercialization.”
