Lincoln, Nebraska–based Virtual Incision plans to utilize digital twin framework capabilities integrated with robotic learning tools. The company says this could enable the creation of highly realistic virtual environments to simulate surgical details and physiologic processes. Ultimately, Virtual Incision aims to accelerate the product development lifecycle with comprehensive testing throughout digital prototyping, simulation and physical deployment utilizing Nvidia’s Issac for Healthcare platform.
The news was part of a host of medtech AI announcements this week as Nvidia holds its GTC 2025 event in San Jose, California. (We have a full roundup of medtech AI news out of Nvidia’s “Super Bowl of AI.”)
Mira, Virtual Incision’s current surgical robot platform, 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
[For more on the wide world of surgical robotics, see our special report on the space.]
This marks another step into surgical robotics for Nvidia, which is making its mark in medtech. A leader in AI computing, Nvidia has worked with a number of medtech companies to incorporate AI into their technologies. Johnson & Johnson MedTech announced last year that it plans to accelerate and scale AI for surgery in partnership with Nvidia. GE HealthCare and Nvidia partnered to bring AI to ultrasound technology in March 2024 as well.
Asensus Surgical linked up with Nvidia in 2023 to deliver novel clinical intelligence to surgeons in surgical robotics. Medtronic also partnered with Nvidia to enable an AI Access platform to boost the GI Genius intelligent endoscopy module’s capabilities. This week, Hyperfine announced a deal with Nvidia to leverage its AI in neuroimaging, then struck a collaboration to integrate AI — including Isaac for Healthcare — into Moon Surgical’s robotic platform.
“Developing a surgical robot is a rigorous process, and great care must be taken to ensure that the product is safe, smart and effective,” said John Murphy, chief executive officer of Virtual Incision. “As we work on future iterations of MIRA, we’re excited to use NVIDIA Isaac for Healthcare to bring our surgeons and patients the most advanced technologies safely and expeditiously.”
