TransEnterix (NYSE:TRXC) said today that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to add an artificial intelligence feature to its Senhance robotic surgery system.
The new Intelligent Surgical Unit on the system enables the camera to automatically move for a surgeon during a procedure, responding to commands and recognizing certain objects and locations in the surgical field. TransEnterix secured the clearance only two months after filing.
“We are pleased to have received this important clearance earlier than expected. Machine vision is the next major advance in digital surgery,” TransEnterix CEO Anthony Fernando said in a news release.
“Our system is designed to significantly advance the sensing capabilities of computer-assisted surgery,” Fernando said. With this hardware and software system, the Senhance System will gather and interpret visual information from the surgical field. The capabilities now cleared will be focused on optimizing visualization and camera control in ways never before offered in robotic or digital surgery. These initial capabilities represent the first step in our journey to bring the benefits of augmented intelligence and machine vision to surgery.”
Eventually, the system could have an overwatch feature in which the system utilizes scene cognition and surgical image analytics to provide a surgeon suggestions based on accumulated knowledge and experience around Senhance.
TransEnterix has been seeking a better year in 2020 for its Senhance Systems — which boast haptic feedback, surgeon camera control via eye sensing and improved ergonomics. On top of the push into augmented intelligence, TransEnterix has also been experimenting with robot leasing agreements to get Senhance into the hands of more surgeons.
