Surgical robot technology developer Virtual Incision announced today that it appointed Jim Alecxih as its new CEO.
Alecxih, a recognized commercial leader in the medical device industry,brings more than 30 years of experience. That includes a tenure at Intuitive Surgical. There, he played a role in the adoption and growth of the industry-leading da Vinci robot. He succeeds John Murphy, who spent more than 13 years in the corner office at the Lincoln, Nebraska–based company.
The new CEO joins Virtual Incision, maker of the Mira surgical robot platform. Mira features a small, self-contained surgical device. Inserted through a single midline umbilical incision in the patient’s abdomen, it allows for complex, multi-quadrant abdominal surgeries. The system also uses existing minimally invasive tools and techniques that are familiar to surgeons. Mira has FDA approval for use in colectomy procedures.
Alecxih takes over as the company prepares for the accelerated development and of its next-generation M2 system. M2, a miniaturized, single-port system, aims to offer a simple, smart option that minimizes the cost and complexity of existing, mainframe, cart-based surgical robots. It plans to submit M2 to the FDA for various specialties to bring robotic-assisted surgery to hospitals and surgical settings that lack access.
(Read more analysis on the current surgical robotics competition. Also, see our special report on the space.)
Previously, Alecxih led U.S. sales at Intuitive, helping to drive adoption of robotic surgery nationwide. He recently served as CEO of DH Medical, an AI software company and held other leadership roles across healthcare startups and growth-stage companies.
“The opportunity to lead Virtual Incision at this pivotal time is an extraordinary honor,” said Alecxih. “I believe deeply in the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to both patients, surgeons and hospitals. M2 has the potential to dramatically expand access to robotic-assisted surgery in rural hospitals, HOPD and ASC settings, and around the world.
“Virtual Incision’s visionary approach is to ensure that robotic-assisted surgery is more accessible, flexible and scalable for a broader range of operating environments. I’m thrilled to join this talented team and help accelerate our impact on patients and providers.”
