CMR Surgical enhances surgical robot with new imaging tech

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CMR Surgical’s Versius surgical robotics system in action. | Source: CMR Surgical

CMR Surgical Ltd. yesterday announced that it has launched vLimeLite, an integrated fluorescence imaging system that works with its Versius Plus surgical robot. It is intended to help surgeons perform visual assessment of blood flow, vessels, and related tissue perfusion, as well as biliary anatomy, it said.

vLimeLight enables visualization of ICG (Indocyanine green) and offers options for viewing mode, asserted the Cambridge, U.K.-based company. Surgeons can choose overlay in greyscale or overlay in full color, and they can choose green or cyan for ICG color. 

“With 3D HD visualization, surgeons already have a fantastic view of their operating field at our Versius console,” said Supratim Bose, CEO of CMR Surgical. “But now, with vLimeLite, they can see beyond what the eye can see, allowing them to clearly visualize critical anatomy during their operations.”

“This is the most significant update of Versius since it launched back in 2019,” he added in a release. “We have listened to the needs of surgeons, and I’m delighted that we have been able to give them what they want — a best-in-class ICG product that we know will make a real difference for their patients.”

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CMR says it can help surgeons see the invisible 

Versius Plus is the first CE-marked surgical robot to offer this type of integrated ICG system, claimed CMR Surgical. The company also said it marks the first in a series of product releases planned for 2024.

“I think what is really special is the overlay mode option, which means Versius surgeons will be able to use our integrated ICG system while continuing to view in full color with the same video quality,” stated Mark Slack, co-founder and chief medical officer of CMR Surgical. “vLimeLite truly allows surgeons to see what was once invisible to them.”

Versius is designed to fit into most operating rooms and easily integrate into existing workflows, CMR Surgical explained. The system combines a portable and modular form factor for minimal access surgery (MAS). It also includes small, fully wristed instruments; a variety of ergonomic working positions; and an open surgeon console, as well as data collection for continual learning, the company noted.

Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals NHS Trust in the U.K. is the first hospital to install vLimeLite. Its upper GI team plans to begin cases with the system next month.

CMR Surgical gears up for another year of growth 

Boes recently spoke about CMR’s plans. He said the surgical robotics company is set for more growth. In 2023, the installed base for Versius grew 50% to 160, and its annual surgical procedure numbers grew 60% to 17,000.

This year, CMR said it is rolling out enhancements in vision technology, instrumentation, and digital products to further strengthen Versius’ value. This latest announcement seems to be only the beginning of the company’s plans this year. 

Bose maintained that CMR Surgical has an offering that can navigate between where Intuitive’s da Vinci is and where it will go. Just weeks ago, Intuitive announced that it is seeking FDA clearance for its next-gen da Vinci 5.

Editor’s note: This article was syndicated from MassDevice, a sibling site to The Robot Report.