Robotic Surgery Pioneer Virtuoso Surgical Awarded $1.8 Million in SBIR Funding

Medical device company Virtuoso Surgical, Inc. has been awarded a $1.8 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) NIH grant to be received over the next two years. Virtuoso’s robotic surgery system enables a new scale of robotic tools and maneuvers in endoscopic surgery that are not possible using today’s instruments.

“We are honored to receive this SBIR Phase II grant as we move toward commercialization of our groundbreaking robotic surgical system,” said S. Duke Herrell, III, MD, FACS, CEO, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Virtuoso Surgical. “The Virtuoso system gives surgeons their hands back, enabling them to use two ’hands’ to perform procedures deep within the body, at the tip of an endoscope, with unprecedented control and dexterity.”

“For this SBIR Phase II grant, Virtuoso will continue its research regarding the use of its patented robotic technology to improve bladder lesion removal,” Dr. Herrell said. “Bladder lesion removal often does not obtain key information such as depth of invasion or margins if the lesion is a cancer, and we know that outcomes can be improved for these surgeries and patients.”

“We look forward to continuing to collaborate in this research with world renowned simulation and education expert Ahmed Ghazi, MD, and his colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University Simulation Innovation Lab at the Brady Urological Institute,” Dr. Herrell said.

While Virtuoso Surgical’s initial clinical applications will likely be bladder lesions and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue removal, the technology is a platform that will improve many if not all surgical procedures where tools are delivered through rigid endoscopes.

The Virtuoso Surgical system includes two robotically controlled, needle-sized manipulators working from the tip of a rigid endoscope that is less than half the diameter of a U.S. dime. The scope itself is far smaller than current robotic endoscope hardware, and the manipulators are 1mm in diameter. Equipped with a camera, the endoscope comes with an array of manipulators depending on the procedure, including a tissue grasper, retractor, tissue snare, laser aiming manipulator and electrosurgical tools.

In addition to Dr. Duke Herrell, the Virtuoso Surgical team includes Co-founder and President Robert J. Webster, III, PhD, who also founded the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE) with Dr. Herrell. They developed the Virtuoso Surgical system with a design team helmed by COO, Co-founder and Lead Engineer Richard Hendrick, PhD. Pending regulatory approval, company executives anticipate first-in-human use in early 2024 followed by regulatory submission pursuant of FDA approval for sale in the United States.

The Virtuoso Surgical system has demonstrated feasibility in animal, cadaver and tissue model studies examining use in surgeries for bladder cancer, uterine fibroids (among other intrauterine procedures), enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia – BPH), central airway obstruction removal and endoscopic neurosurgery. The technology can provide dexterity in rigid endoscopic procedures, including in urology, neurosurgery, pulmonology, gynecology, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, otolaryngology (ENT) and other sub-specialties.

Virtuoso Surgical Resources

Videos of Robotic Surgery System in Action

Articles

About Virtuoso Surgical

Virtuoso Surgical has developed a groundbreaking robotic surgery system that radically improves minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. The Virtuoso Surgical system features a pair of instrument delivery arms made of concentric nitinol tubes that mimic a surgeon’s hand motions to offer unprecedented control and dexterity to a full range of endoscopic applications. The system uses patented technology developed by Virtuoso’s founders at Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University with funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. For additional information about Virtuoso Surgical and the initial public offering of common stock, visit www.virtuososurgical.net and www.virtuososurgical.net/investors. This device has not yet been approved by the FDA and is not for sale in the United States.

 

 

Virtuoso Surgical Unveils Design of Groundbreaking Robotic Surgery System: System Resets Scale and Reimagines Future of Robotic Endoscopic Surgery

Nashville-based medical device company Virtuoso Surgical, Inc. has unveiled its revolutionary robotic surgery system. Virtuoso’s patented technology reimagines endoscopic surgery in scale, function and cost.

“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.”

The unveiling of the product marks the end of the design stage for Virtuoso Surgical and progress in the regulatory phase. In September 2022, the company’s  first public offering of common stock became effective after review by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Virtuoso Surgical Co-Founder and President Robert J. Webster, III, PhD also co-founded the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgery and Engineering (VISE) with Dr. Duke Herrell. They developed the Virtuoso Surgical system with a design team helmed by COO and Lead Engineer Richard Hendrick, PhD. The system enables surgeons to use two hands to perform dexterous maneuvers deep within the body, at the tip of an endoscope. Company executives anticipate regulatory submission in 2024, pursuant of FDA approval for sale in the United States.

“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,” Robert J. Webster, III, PhD, said. “Easier to use, more nimble and more effective than existing instruments, it stands to drastically broaden the possibilities of rigid endoscopic surgery.”

The Virtuoso Surgical system includes two robotically controlled, needle-sized manipulators working from the tip of a rigid endoscope that is less than half the diameter of a U.S. dime. The scope itself is far smaller than current robotic endoscope hardware, and the manipulators are 1mm in diameter. Equipped with a camera, the endoscope comes with an array of manipulators depending on the procedure, including a grasper, spatula, snare, laser aiming manipulator and electrosurgical tools.

“Our team set out to bring the stability and dexterity of robotic surgery to the rigid endoscopy space, and we have achieved that with the Virtuoso Surgical system,” Richard Hendrick, PhD, said. “This innovation equips surgeons to operate as though their hands were inside the body, with the minimally invasive advantages of rigid endoscopy.”

The Virtuoso Surgical system has demonstrated feasibility in animal, cadaver and tissue model studies in surgeries for bladder cancer, uterine fibroids (among other intrauterine procedures), enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia – BPH), central airway obstruction removal and endoscopic neurosurgery.

The technology can provide dexterity in any procedure where tools are delivered through rigid endoscopes, including in urology, gynecology, neurosurgery, interventional pulmonology, orthopedics, thoracic surgery, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and other sub-specialties.

 

Virtuoso Surgical Resources

Videos of System in Action

Articles

 

About Virtuoso Surgical

Virtuoso Surgical has developed a groundbreaking robotic surgery system that radically improves minimally invasive endoscopic surgery. The Virtuoso Surgical system features a pair of instrument delivery arms made of concentric nitinol tubes that mimic a surgeon’s hand motions to offer unprecedented control and dexterity to a full range of endoscopic applications. The system uses patented technology developed by Virtuoso’s founders at Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University with funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. For additional information about Virtuoso Surgical and the initial public offering of common stock, visit www.virtuososurgical.net and www.virtuososurgical.net/investors. This device has not yet been approved by the FDAand is not for sale in the United States.

Dr. Po N. Lam Performs Leading-Edge Robotic Surgery with Associated Medical Professionals of NY, an Affiliate of U.S. Urology Partners

Dr. Po N. Lam, a nationally recognized urologist and robotic surgeon with Associated Medical Professionals of NY (A.M.P.), is working to provide residents of Syracuse and the surrounding Central New York region access to the next generation of robotic surgery.

The introduction of robotically assisted surgery revolutionized the ability of physicians to perform minimally invasive surgical procedures, replacing the use of open surgery that requires a large incision with multiple small access points. Long-handled tools and a camera controlled remotely by the physician are inserted through these access points to perform the medical procedure.

Dr. Lam is the only surgeon in the area who has been specially trained in the technique to use the innovative da Vinci SP (Single Port) system for prostatectomy and other urological procedures. The new SP system only requires one small incision compared to previous robotic surgeries that require 4 to 7 incisions. The system includes multi-jointed, flexible instruments and fully wristed 3D camera. The instruments and the camera emerge through a single access hole and provide 360 degrees of anatomical access.

“Through my work with the new da Vinci SP, I’ve seen numerous benefits with this leading-edge technology that is now available to patients close to home in Central New York. This technology gives the surgeon much more freedom of movement and ability to see the anatomy compared to the old system,” said Po N. Lam, M.D., of Associated Medical Professionals of NY.

“One of the major advantages of the single port surgical technique is reducing the amount of pain during and after robotic surgery. This helps reduce the need for narcotics, which in turn greatly reduces the abuse and potential addiction to narcotics,” Dr. Lam explains.

“Patients are also able to leave the hospital sooner and recover faster in the comfort of their homes,” Dr. Lam continued. “With the strain on staffing at all levels, this is helpful to the patient as well as the hospital. Single port with less incisions offers many benefits to the patient, and I’m pleased to bring those advantages to the Central New York region.”

Other potential benefits of robotic surgery for patients include lower risk of infection or complications, less blood loss, less scarring and faster return to normal activities.

Dr. Lam has performed thousands of robotic procedures in Central New York in the past 16 years. He is certified in da Vinci robotic surgery and serves as a proctor for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. Dr. Lam specializes in advanced robotic surgery in the areas of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer and difficult kidney stones. Dr. Lam is one of the top performing robotic surgeons in the Central New York region.

A podcast of Dr. Lam discussing the robotic surgery he performed at Crouse Health is available here.

 

About Associated Medical Professionals of NY (A.M.P.)

Associated Medical Professionals of NY (A.M.P.) is a multi-specialty medical practice based in Syracuse, New York, serving the Central New York region. Established in 2008, A.M.P. has grown to become one of the largest multi-specialty groups of its kind in the area that strives to provide quality care at each of its ten offices and nine hospital locations. As a pivotal point of care in each community, A.M.P. is able to provide continuity of care for a vast population of patients. A.M.P. maintains a robust suite of ancillary services, including radiation oncology, pathology, lithotripsy, imaging and clinical research. A.M.P.’s provider base consists of more than 30 physicians and numerous clinical support staff practicing in 19 locations. A.M.P. is an affiliate of U.S. Urology Partners. For more information, visit www.ampofny.com and www.us-uro.com.

 

About U.S. Urology Partners

U.S. Urology Partners is one of the nation’s largest independent providers of urology and related specialty services, including general urology, surgical and robotic procedures, advanced cancer treatment and other ancillary services. The U.S. Urology Partners clinical network consists of more than 50 locations throughout the East Coast and Midwest, including Associated Medical Professionals of NY, Central Ohio Urology Group, Florida Urology Center and Urology of Indiana. U.S. Urology Partners was formed to support urology practices with an experienced team of healthcare executives and resources, and is backed by NMS Capital. The U.S. Urology Partners corporate office is in Nolensville, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville. For additional information about U.S. Urology Partners, please visit www.us-uro.com.

Dr. Ronney Abaza, A World Leader in Robotic Urologic and Cancer Surgery, Joins Central Ohio Urology Group

Central Ohio Urology Group is pleased to announce that Ronney Abaza, MD, FACS, one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the world, has joined the group to continue his focus on robotic surgery for prostate, kidney and bladder cancers and other urological conditions. Dr. Abaza ranks in the top five internationally for robotic surgery volume with more than 6,000 procedures performed, as well as being the first in the world to perform several robotic procedures.

With a clinical network of 15 offices, Central Ohio Urology Group is the region’s leading provider of comprehensive urological services, including general urology, men’s health, women’s health, cancer care, advanced cancer treatment and radiation oncology. Facilities in the Columbus area include an Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic, as well as a state-of-the-art, urology-specific ambulatory surgery center. Central Ohio Urology Group is an affiliate of U.S. Urology Partners, one of the largest independent providers of urological and related specialty services in the nation, which is backed by NMS Capital.

Mark Cherney, CEO of Central Ohio Urology Group and U.S. Urology Partners, stated, “We are honored that Dr. Ronney Abaza has joined the team at Central Ohio Urology Group. As an internationally recognized pioneer in robotic surgery, he will make tremendous contributions as a member of our clinical team and, most importantly, to our patients.”

Ronney Abaza, MD, FACS, said, “Having practiced in Central Ohio for nearly 15 years, I was already aware of the excellence of the urologists at Central Ohio Urology Group, but I’m most excited to join the group because of their forward-thinking vision for robotic surgery. Central Ohio Urology Group will have one of the first urology-specific ambulatory surgery centers in the country to offer patients robotic surgery. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help shape this program and create the best possible experience for our patients tailored just to them and what they need.”

“My practice is 99% robotic surgery for prostate, kidney, bladder and other urologic cancers, and most of the surgeries I perform are on an outpatient basis. It was Central Ohio Urology Group’s commitment to advanced technologies, and specifically an investment in a robot, that created this opportunity. Given that ambulatory surgery center operating costs are much lower than a typical hospital, we can offer a cost-effective solution. I will continue to perform robotic surgeries in area hospitals as well, but most of my patients will now be able to have their cancer surgeries without ever having to stay in a hospital and will be back home with their family around them the same day as their surgery,” added Dr. Abaza.

Dr. Abaza is now accepting patients and will primarily serve them in the Dublin and Gahanna offices. To learn more about Dr. Abaza, visit www.centralohiourology.com or www.drabaza.com. For additional information or to schedule an appointment or refer a patient to Dr. Abaza, please contact (614) 796-2842 or request an appointment at www.centralohiourology.com.

About Ronney Abaza, MD, FACS

Dr. Ronney Abaza is a world-renowned expert in robotic surgery for prostate, kidney and bladder cancers and other urologic conditions. His practice has been dedicated solely to robotic surgery since 2008, and he has performed over 6,000 robotic surgeries making him the most experienced robotic surgeon in Ohio in any specialty and one of the top five in the world.

Dr. Abaza is a pioneer in robotic surgery as the first in the world to perform robotic surgery for adrenocortical carcinoma, kidney cancer with caval thrombi, ureteroileal anastomosis revisions after cystectomy, and renal autotransplantation, among other procedures he developed and performed for the first time. He has presented his work at national and international medical meetings, including more than 200 presentations at various meetings on robotic surgery, and has won numerous awards for his research. Dr. Abaza has authored over 130 publications and book chapters in the fields of robotic surgery and urologic cancers and is editor of the only textbook dedicated to robotic kidney surgery. His work has been featured on the covers of Urology, European Urology and the Journal of Endourology.

Dr. Abaza has given hundreds of lectures on robotic surgery and serves as faculty at medical society meetings and for educational courses both in the U.S. and internationally. He has performed live robotic surgery demonstrations broadcasted to the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting, the World Congress of Endourology, European Robotic Urology Symposium, North American Robotic Urology Symposium, International Robotic Urology Symposium, and the Society of Robotic Surgery Annual Meeting, among others. He has led the development of multidisciplinary robotic surgery programs at three institutions. He was director of a robotic urologic surgery fellowship program for 10 years training new urologists in robotic surgery. He has served as a visiting professor at several academic urology departments and has welcomed over 100 surgeons from around the world into his operating room for case observations to learn his techniques. Dr. Abaza’s educational YouTube channel of surgeries he has performed for other surgeons was started only one year ago and already has thousands of views.

Dr. Abaza has served as President of the Ohio Urological Society and currently serves as the Ohio representative to the board of the North Central Section of the American Urological Association. He also serves on the editorial boards of several medical journals. Dr. Abaza has been chosen by peer nomination for the Best Doctors in America every year since 2011.

About Central Ohio Urology Group

Central Ohio Urology Group is one of the nation’s leading providers of urological services with a network of 15 offices in the region. Headquartered just outside of Columbus in Gahanna, Ohio, Central Ohio Urology Group provides comprehensive services, including general urology, men’s health, women’s health, cancer care, advanced cancer treatment and radiation oncology. Facilities in the Columbus area include an Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic, as well as a state-of-the-art, urology-specific ambulatory surgery center that is one of the first in the country to offer robotic surgery. Central Ohio Urology Group’s experienced care team provides more than 50 urological specialties and subspecialties. Central Ohio Urology Group is an affiliate of U.S. Urology Partners, one of the largest independent providers of urological and related specialty services in the nation, which is backed by NMS Capital. For more information, visit www.centralohiourology.com and www.us-uro.com.