Surgical company teams up with training centre ahead of U.S. product launch

A surgical company has teamed up with a high-tech training centre to launch a U.S-based training program ahead of its product launch for its Versius training tool.

CMR Surgical has teamed up with the Nicholson Center to train 27 surgical teams, including more than 100 healthcare professionals, and assisted in nine weeks of FDA validation studies ahead of the launch of Versius in U.S. – expected in March 2019.

Martin Frost, CEO of CMR Surgical said: “We are pleased to partner with the Nicholson Center to roll out a training program that introduces surgeons to Versius. Versius has been designed with the surgeon in mind and we are confident that by supporting the necessary training we can work with surgeons to realize the benefits of minimal access surgery for patients.”

Versius has a small form factor, modular design and individually cart-mounted arms. The product is aimed to be easy to move between operating rooms and even hospitals or clinics, quick to set up and gives the surgical team easy access to the patient at all times.

Roger Smith, PhD, CTO of the Nicholson Center said: “The Nicholson Center’s goal is to continue offering surgeons the ability to train on the latest and most advanced medical technology, and CMR Surgical’s Versius fits the bill. This collaboration allows surgeons a chance to safely and realistically train with a completely unique, yet user-friendly, operating style, increasing their confidence levels before using the technology in the field.”

Biomimicking the human arm, Versius allows surgeons the freedom of port placement, but with the benefits of small fully-wristed instruments.

Vipul Patel, M.D., urological surgeon and president of the Society of Robotic Surgery said: “Having successfully completed the first pre-clinical radical prostatectomy using the Versius system in the U.S., I can see real value in CMR’s approach to developing a next generation surgical robot. The modular, portable design of Versius makes it a welcome addition to the surgical landscape.”