Medrobotics said today that its Flex robotic system was used in its 1st colorectal surgery, touting it as a global 1st for the system.
The surgery was performed at George Washington University Hospital by Dr. Vincent Obias, the company said, to remove a suspected cancerous lesion from the rectum of an adult male. The procedure required no incisions through the skin, the Raynham Mass.-based company said.
“The Flex Robotic System is the first robotic platform that allows surgeons to visualize and access lesions in the rectum with a steerable and shapeable robotic scope and flexible instruments. This offers some patients the opportunity to be treated with fewer incisions and may result in reduced complications and faster recoveries,” Dr. Obias said in a press release.
“Until now, robotic-assisted colorectal surgery required multiple incisions through the abdomen because straight, rigid robotic tools were not designed to navigate the twists and turns of the human gastrointestinal system. These procedures can result in complications, pain and scarring. The Flex robotic system was designed to enable Scarfree robotic-assisted access to cancer and other lesions in the rectum and distal colon, following a path directly through the anus,” prez & CEO Samuel Straface
In May, Medrobotics won indications for colorectal procedures with the Flex system from the FDA, and won similar expanded CE Mark approval in the European Union last October.
The system won 510(k) clearance from the FDA for transoral procedures in July 2015 (that indication won CE Mark approval back in March 2014). Medrobotics bills itself as the 1st robotics firm to offer minimally invasive and steerable robotic products for colorectal applications.