British medical equipment company CMR Surgical was visited by the Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock, who trialled the company’s Versius surgical robotic system.
The company also noted discussions with the Secretary on the introduction of the Versius system into the National Health Service (NHS).
Hancock said: “This technology has the potential to make keyhole surgery safer, more accessible and could mean millions of patients will not have to undergo invasive procedures.
“As part of our long-term plan for the NHS, we want to create an ecosystem for innovation to allow the NHS to benefit from other ground-breaking technologies and treatments.”
Unveiled last month, Versius is a portable robotic system intended to address the complexities and offer improved access during minimal access surgeries.
The surgical device has a small form and individually cart-mounted arms. It is said to bio-mimic the human arm and provides freedom of port placement with the benefits of small fully-wristed instruments.
CMR Surgical CEO Martin Frost said: “The visit from the Health and Social Care Secretary comes at a hugely exciting time for CMR Surgical.
“We were delighted to welcome Matt and to discuss with him how the NHS can continue to be a world leader in adopting the latest technology for the benefit of patients.”
Established in 2014, CMR Surgical currently has 250 employees. The company aims to make minimal access surgery universally accessible and affordable.
At present, validation studies are being carried out for regulatory approval processes in Europe. The Versius system is set to be rolled out in hospitals across the UK and continental Europe next year.
The company is also planning for expansion into other international markets in the future.
