US-based Virtuoso Surgical has completed the first-in-human bladder cancer removal cases using its surgical robotic system.
The system features two robotically controlled, needle-sized manipulators less than 1mm in size. Operated from the tip of a rigid endoscope, the minuscule size of the company’s equipment facilitates the removal of bladder lesions intact rather than piecemeal using the en bloc technique.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Removing a total of 11 lesions in six patients, the first-in-human cases of Virtuoso’s system were performed by Dr Jeremy Teoh, a leading bladder cancer surgeon and researcher based at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
While research indicates that en bloc holds benefits, the procedure is not typically performed in the US, potentially due to the dexterity limitations of current equipment, which makes the procedure challenging to learn and perform effectively.
According to Virtuoso, its system helps overcome dexterity issues typically associated with performing en bloc procedures. The company adds that the system’s instrumentation and multiple-arm dexterity are designed to improve rigid endoscopy by providing retraction and precise control through its patented concentric tube robotic arm technology.
Trial results published in 2024 by a team led by Dr Teoh demonstrated that en bloc resection of the bladder tumour (ERBT) resulted in a 29% reduction in the one-year recurrence rate of ERBT post-procedure versus 38% in the standard resection control.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataDr Teoh commented: “The ability to perform an en bloc resection for bladder cancer with this level of robotic assistance is a game-changer even for an expert in the technique.
“This approach has the potential to enable the widespread adoption of en bloc techniques, thereby minimising local recurrence and providing a more definitive pathological specimen, which is crucial for guiding subsequent treatment decisions.”
Virtuoso’s chief operating officer Richard J Hendrick asserted that the company’s system will be useful in multiple areas of the body where rigid endoscopes are used to deliver interventional tools.
Looking ahead, the company said it plans to soon submit an investigational device exemption (IDE) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to study its system in the US.
