CMR Surgical (CMR), a global surgical robotics company, has introduced the Versius Surgical Robotic System at the Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, meaning the hospital has become one of the first in the UK to use Versius for thoracic procedures.
The trust is one of the world’s leading cardiothoracic hospitals and the UK’s main heart and lung transplant centre.
According to its developers, Versius is suited to assisting surgeons to overcome the challenges associated with operating in a minimally invasive way on the lungs, thymus and oesophagus.
The robot works by replicating the movements of the joints in human arms, as well as wrist rotation, and is operated by surgeons using a controller.
Adam Peryt, consultant thoracic surgeon at Royal Papworth, said: “Thoracic surgeons have long been waiting for a surgical robot like Versius that is suited to our specific needs.
“Of course, we want all the benefits you’d expect of robotic-assisted surgery, but we also needed a system that allows us to continue using small instruments and ports that we can place exactly where is needed given the limitations of operating through the ribcage.
“Versius gives us this. I’m truly excited to see first-hand the benefits that Versius can bring to our patients.”
Versius makes small incisions between the patients’ ribs, meaning thoracic surgeons can work within the chest cavity. The solutions is also equipped with 3D HD vision.
Its small and modular design is intended to give the surgeon optimal access through the rib cage.
Mark Slack, chief medical officer and co-founder of CMR Surgical said: “We are delighted to be partnering with the world-class surgeons and surgical teams at Royal Papworth as the first to use Versius in thoracic surgery in the UK.
“Versius was designed to make the benefits of minimal access surgery available to more patients around the world, and we’re thrilled that thoracic patients in the UK will now be able to access to this type of treatment.
“Versius is well-suited to thoracic surgery, as the modular small form factor means that it can be set up in a way that allows optimal access through the rib cage, and the small fully-wristed instruments can work precisely in the thoracic cavity. We look forward to working with Royal Papworth on bringing the benefits of this technology to as many patients as possible.”
Royal Papworth’s team of surgeons and surgical teams will now undergo CMR’s training programme for Versius, which focuses on surgeons and the wider surgical team achieving key competencies at each stage of the pathway to ensure skills standardisation.
