Medrobotics Corp., a medical robotics company, announced at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons meeting in Adelaide that it has received TGA regulatory clearance to market the Flex® Robotic System for colorectal procedures. Medrobotics is the first and only company to offer minimally invasive, steerable and shapeable robotic products for colorectal procedures in Australia. The Flex® Robotic System is the world’s first robotic surgical platform to offer Scarfree™ access to hard-to-reach anatomy in otolaryngology and colorectal procedures. This provides surgeons treatment options that may not be possible with straight, rigid instruments.
“The human gastrointestinal system is full of twists and turns, and rigid surgical robots were not designed to operate in that environment. The Flex® Robotic System was. In 2015, Medrobotics started revolutionizing treatment in the head and neck in Australia. We can now begin doing that in colorectal procedures,” said CEO Samuel Straface, Ph.D. “Australian hospitals, surgeons and patients will be able to enjoy the benefits of the world’s only flexible, surgical robotic platform. It will easily integrate into hospitals due to its mobility and short learning curve.”
The highly mobile Flex® Robotic System can easily be moved from one operating room to another. (Photo: Business Wire)
The minimally invasive Flex® Robotic System offers surgeons the unique ability to navigate complex anatomy through a single, small entry point to operate in difficult-to-reach places. Today, access is gained through the mouth and anus. In future applications, access may be obtained through other natural orifices such as the vagina, or through small incisions in the abdomen. Medrobotics is developing new surgical applications for its core platform technology in the areas of general surgery, gynecology, and urology, among others. These new applications are not yet cleared for use in the U.S. or Australia.
The award-winning Flex® Robotic System has been widely recognized for advances in surgical robotic technology, including Best-in-Show at the 2016 Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) and a Best New Product at the 2017 Edison Awards. Medrobotics’ Flex® Robotic System was designed to provide an affordable, easy-to-use and highly mobile robot-assisted surgical platform for hospitals and surgeons seeking to provide minimally-invasive treatment options to the broadest number of patients. Minimally invasive surgery has demonstrated advantages for patients and providers, such as shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.
