Vicarious Surgical announced that it won FDA breakthrough device designation for its virtual reality-based robot-assisted surgical device.
Charlestown, Mass.–based Vicarious has said its device for minimally invasive procedures “combines virtual reality with proprietary human-like surgical robotics to enable surgeons to perform minimally invasive surgery through a single micro-incision.”
The company claims to have achieved “the goal of surgical robotics since the field’s inception — to shrink the surgeon and put them inside the patient.”
“We are the first surgical robot to be recognized with the FDA’s breakthrough classification,” Vicarious CEO & co-founder Adam Sachs said in a news release. “This validates the platform we are developing and the clinical value it can offer surgeons and patients. It also adds to our momentum as we advance our innovative technology toward commercialization.”
Vicarious also announced the appointment of Scott Huennekens to its board of directors. Huennekens previously served as president & CEO of Google (NSDQ:GOOG) and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) joint venture Verb Surgical. He also held the same roles at Volcano Therapeutics and Digirad Corporation.
“I am honored to join Vicarious Surgical’s board of directors,” Huennekens said. “Vicarious Surgical has developed the most innovative robotic technology I have seen, and I believe it will transform the future of minimally invasive surgery.”
“Scott has keen business insight into the complex surgical robotics market and brings a wealth of experience from the broader medical device industry,” Sachs added. “Vicarious Surgical will benefit greatly from his involvement as we continue with fundraising, product development and organizational growth. We are thrilled to have Scott join our board of directors.”
