Robotic Surgery System Enables Groundbreaking Maneuvers in Endoscopic/Endoluminal Surgery
|
By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 10 May 2023 |

Rigid endoscopes are widely used in various surgical fields, such as neurologic, thoracic, orthopedic, urologic, and gynecologic procedures. Now, a groundbreaking robotic surgery system improves the conventional rigid endoscope by incorporating dexterous, robotic tools without disrupting the operating room workflow.
Virtuoso Surgical, Inc. (Nashville, TN, USA) has introduced its cutting-edge robotic surgery system, based on its patented technology that redefines endoscopic surgery in terms of scale, function, and cost. The system allows surgeons to employ two hands to execute skillful maneuvers deep within the body using the endoscope's tip. The Virtuoso System minimizes the need for awkward and potentially hazardous endoscope movements while allowing the surgeon to handle tissue as if their hands were inside the body.
The Virtuoso Surgical system consists of two robotically controlled, needle-sized manipulators operating from a rigid endoscope's tip, which is less than half the diameter of a U.S. dime. The scope itself is significantly smaller than existing robotic endoscope equipment, and the manipulators have a 1mm diameter. The endoscope, which includes a camera, comes with a variety of manipulators tailored to the procedure, such as a grasper, spatula, snare, laser aiming manipulator, and electrosurgical tools. Each needle-sized manipulator is made from curved nitinol tubes that bend controllably as they twist and telescopically extend.
Virtuoso has developed manipulators that are considerably smaller than other robotic surgical instruments. This enables the surgeon to insert tools into areas of the body that were previously inaccessible, opening the door for new treatments through a single port less than one centimeter in diameter. The system can replace straight tools in almost any rigid endoscopic procedure, offering the surgeon unparalleled dexterity in grasping, manipulating, and cutting tissue within rigid endoscopy today.
The Virtuoso Surgical system has proven its feasibility in animal, cadaver, and tissue model studies for surgeries involving bladder cancer, uterine fibroids (and other intrauterine procedures), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), central airway obstruction removal, and endoscopic neurosurgery. The technology can deliver dexterity in any procedure involving rigid endoscopes, including urology, gynecology, neurosurgery, interventional pulmonology, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, ear, nose, and throat (ENT), and other sub-specialties.
“Virtuoso gives surgeons their hands back, equipping them to lift tissue, apply tension and maintain traction – in tight spaces within the body,” said S. Duke Herrell, III, MD, FACS, CEO, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Virtuoso Surgical. “These are groundbreaking maneuvers in endoscopic/endoluminal surgery that are not possible with today’s instruments.”
“Virtuoso Surgical was born to reimagine the possibilities of endoscopic surgery, and we are pleased to move closer to making this system widely available to U.S. physicians,” said Virtuoso Surgical Co-Founder and President Robert J. Webster, III, PhD. “Easier to use, more nimble and more effective than existing instruments, it stands to drastically broaden the possibilities of rigid endoscopic surgery.”
Related Links:
Virtuoso Surgical, Inc.
Latest Surgical Techniques News
- Continuous Monitoring with Wearables Enhances Postoperative Patient Safety
- New Approach Enables Customized Muscle Tissue Without Biomaterial Scaffolds
- Robot-Assisted Brain Angiography Improves Procedural Outcomes
- Brain Mapping Technology Enhances Precision in Brain Tumor Resection
- Handheld Robotic System Expands Options for Total Knee Surgery
- VR Experience Reduces Patient Anxiety Before Kidney Stone Procedure
- Injectable Mini Livers Offer Hope for Patients Awaiting Transplant
- Pulsed Field Ablation Technology Cleared in Europe for Persistent AFib
- AI-Powered Imaging Brings Real-Time Margin Clarity to Breast Cancer Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Device Safely Treats Challenging Brain Aneurysms
- Surgical Robot Makes Complex Liver Tumor Surgery Safer and Less Invasive
- Neurostimulation Implant Reduces Seizure Burden in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
- Minimally Invasive Procedure Effectively Treats Small Kidney Cancers
- Fluorescence Probe Paired with Engineered Enzymes Lights Up Tumors for Easier Surgical Removal
- Novel Hydrogel Could Become Bone Implant of the Future
- Skull Implant Design Could Shape Surgical Outcomes
Channels
Artificial Intelligence
view channel
Machine Learning Approach Enhances Liver Cancer Risk Stratification
Hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of primary liver cancer, is often detected late despite targeted surveillance programs. Current screening guidelines emphasize patients with known cirrhosis,... Read more
New AI Approach Monitors Brain Health Using Passive Wearable Data
Brain health spans cognitive and emotional functions and can fluctuate even in adults without diagnosed disease. Detecting early changes remains difficult in routine care and burdens specialty services... Read moreCritical Care
view channel
Automated IV Labeling Solution Improves Infusion Safety and Efficiency
Medication administration in high-acuity settings is often complicated by multiple concurrent infusions, making accurate line identification essential. In a 10-hospital intensive care unit study, 60% of... Read more
First-Of-Its-Kind AI Tool Detects Pulmonary Hypertension from Standard ECGs
Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive, life‑threatening disease that is frequently missed early because symptoms such as dyspnea are nonspecific and diagnostic delays can exceed two years.... Read morePatient Care
view channel
Wearable Sleep Data Predict Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term lung disorder that makes breathing difficult and often disturbs sleep, reducing energy for daily activities. Limited engagement in pulmonary... Read more
Revolutionary Automatic IV-Line Flushing Device to Enhance Infusion Care
More than 80% of in-hospital patients receive intravenous (IV) therapy. Every dose of IV medicine delivered in a small volume (<250 mL) infusion bag should be followed by subsequent flushing to ensure... Read moreHealth IT
view channel
EMR-Based Tool Predicts Graft Failure After Kidney Transplant
Kidney transplantation offers patients with end-stage kidney disease longer survival and better quality of life than dialysis, yet graft failure remains a major challenge. Although a successful transplant... Read more
Printable Molecule-Selective Nanoparticles Enable Mass Production of Wearable Biosensors
The future of medicine is likely to focus on the personalization of healthcare—understanding exactly what an individual requires and delivering the appropriate combination of nutrients, metabolites, and... Read moreBusiness
view channel







