Articles tagged with "medical-technology"
Surgical robots take center stage at DeviceTalks West, RoboBusiness - The Robot Report
The article highlights the prominence of surgical robotics at the upcoming DeviceTalks West and RoboBusiness events, held concurrently at the Santa Clara Convention Center on October 15-16. Surgical robots, recognized as a leading application of robotics and AI in healthcare, will be the focus of multiple sessions covering topics such as intellectual property protection, modern surgical robot suites, and the evolution from teleoperation to autonomous humanoid surgical robots. Notably, Intuitive Surgical’s senior VP Iman Jeddi will deliver a keynote on the redesign and launch of the da Vinci 5 system, underscoring ongoing innovation in this field. RoboBusiness 2025 emphasizes the development and commercialization of automation technologies, featuring tracks on design, enabling technologies, AI, and robotics, alongside networking opportunities and a Pitchfire competition. DeviceTalks West will convene top engineers, executives, and innovators to discuss advances in surgical robotics and digital surgery, including new clinical therapies like neurovascular treatment and expanded use in ambulatory surgery centers.
roboticssurgical-robotsmedical-technologyhealthcare-roboticsrobotic-surgeryautomationartificial-intelligenceMicrobot Medical closes stock sale with $29.2M raised - The Robot Report
Microbot Medical Inc., a company specializing in advanced robotic technology for endovascular procedures, has completed the final closing of its stock option exercise, raising $29.2 million by selling 13.9 million shares of common stock. Founded in 2010 and based in Hingham, Massachusetts, Microbot offers the LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic System, a single-use, remotely operated device designed to improve precision, safety, and efficiency in neurovascular, cardiovascular, and peripheral vascular procedures. The system’s compact, single-use design enables controlled remote operation, potentially lowering procedure costs and enhancing care quality. In addition to the stock sale, Microbot announced a new patent for a modular robotic surgical system featuring a base and multiple interchangeable tool-receiver units, which could broaden LIBERTY’s applicability across various endovascular procedures. The company has issued new short-term Series J preferred investment options with an exercise price of $4.50 per share, potentially raising up to $63 million if fully exercised.
roboticssurgical-robotsmedical-technologyrobotic-surgeryhealthcare-innovationendovascular-proceduresMicrobot-MedicalMedical Microinstruments completes first case in neurosurgical trial with MMI Symani system - The Robot Report
Medical Microinstruments Inc. (MMI) has completed the first neurosurgical cases using its Symani Surgical System in a clinical trial sponsored by the Jacobs Institute at Buffalo General Medical Center. The Symani system features a portable cart with a macropositioner and micromanipulators offering seven degrees of freedom, designed to enhance precision in delicate microsurgical procedures. This milestone builds on a 2024 preclinical study and demonstrates the system’s ability to perform highly skilled maneuvers in neurosurgery, potentially surpassing human manual capabilities. MMI aims to expand robotic microsurgery into complex areas such as neurovascular disease treatment, with the goal of reducing stroke, seizures, paralysis, and vision problems. The system combines wristed micro-instruments with tremor reduction and motion scaling and has been used in over 2,000 cases globally, primarily in lymphatic surgery. Although FDA-authorized for general use in the U.S. and CE-marked in Europe, the Symani system has
roboticsmedical-roboticssurgical-robotsneurosurgeryrobotic-surgerymedical-technologyrobotic-microsurgeryBD and Henry Ford Health partner to automate pharmacies - The Robot Report
BD, a global medical technology company, has partnered with Henry Ford Health to develop and implement a robotic pharmacy automation system aimed at improving prescription access and pharmacy efficiency. The collaboration will utilize BD’s Rowa Vmax, a high-speed, modular robotic system already in use in Europe, to automate the storage and dispensing of medications at Henry Ford Health’s hospital-based community pharmacies in Southeast and Central Michigan. This system will enable patients to pick up select prescriptions 24/7, enhancing convenience and continuity of care. The partnership seeks to transform pharmacy operations by freeing pharmacists from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value, patient-centered care. Key benefits include automated, high-capacity storage and retrieval of medications, real-time prescription tracking, scalability, and the ability to house refrigerated medications and over-the-counter products. Both BD and Henry Ford Health emphasize that this automation aligns with their vision of delivering safer care, better access, and measurable outcomes, with plans to explore additional applications of the technology to further advance pharmacy
robotpharmacy-automationhealthcare-roboticsBD-Rowa-Vmaxprescription-retrievalhospital-pharmacymedical-technologyLevita Magnetics' MARS platform uses AI-guided autonomous camera in first surgery - The Robot Report
Levita Magnetics has achieved a significant milestone by performing the world’s first gallbladder surgery using its MARS (Magnetic Autonomous Robotic Surgery) platform equipped with an AI-guided autonomous surgical camera. The procedure took place at Clínica Las Condes in Santiago, Chile. The MARS system integrates magnetic technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence to autonomously guide a surgical camera, enhancing precision and visualization during minimally invasive surgeries. This innovation allows surgeons to have direct control over the camera without relying on an assistant, providing a stable, uninterrupted field of vision critical for complex procedures like cholecystectomy. Founded in 2011, Levita Magnetics has developed minimally invasive surgical platforms, including the FDA-approved Magnetic Surgical System (MSS), used for various abdominal surgeries such as gallbladder, bariatric, prostate, colorectal, and hiatal hernia procedures. The MARS platform builds on this foundation by combining dynamic magnetic positioning with AI to improve efficiency, reduce the number of instruments and
roboticssurgical-roboticsAI-guided-surgeryautonomous-cameramagnetic-assisted-surgeryminimally-invasive-surgerymedical-technologyLightning-fast chameleon tongues may inspire medical, space tech
Researchers at the University of South Florida, led by postdoctoral researcher Yu Zeng and professor Stephen Deban, have uncovered a shared high-speed tongue-launching mechanism in both chameleons and salamanders. Despite their evolutionary distance and differing habitats, both animals use a similar "ballistic" slingshot-like system composed of ordinary tissues, tendons, and bone to project their tongues at speeds up to 16 feet per second. This discovery, based on over a decade of video analysis, presents a unified mechanical model that explains how these animals achieve rapid tongue strikes using common biological materials. The team highlights the potential for this mechanism to inspire innovative biomedical and industrial technologies. Because the system relies on simple, robust components that can be scaled and recreated with soft or flexible materials, it could lead to devices capable of precise, rapid extension and retraction. Possible applications include medical tools for clearing blood clots, equipment for retrieving objects in disaster zones, and mechanisms for handling debris in space. Future research will
biomimicrymedical-technologyspace-technologysoft-roboticsflexible-materialsengineering-innovationbio-inspired-designBubble-powered robots: How collapsing cavities could replace needles
A joint US-Chinese research team has developed a novel propulsion method for tiny robots using cavitation—the rapid collapse of bubbles in liquid—to generate mechanical energy. By heating light-absorbing materials with a laser, these microbots, called “jumpers,” create expanding bubbles that collapse violently, releasing shockwaves powerful enough to propel millimeter-sized devices up to 1.5 meters into the air or enable swimming speeds of about 12 meters per second. This laser-controlled bubble collapse allows precise control over movement, including jumping, sliding, or swimming, enabling navigation through complex environments such as microfluidic channels. This breakthrough has significant potential applications in medicine, particularly as a minimally invasive alternative to needle-based drug delivery. The cavitation-powered microbots could be launched through the skin to deliver drugs directly to targeted sites like tumors, overcoming limitations of current microrobots that rely on magnetic fields or chemical fuels. Additionally, these devices could explore confined or harsh environments, including inside pipes or biological systems,
robotsmicrobotscavitationmedical-technologydrug-deliverypropulsion-systemsmicroroboticsHow robotics is transforming healthcare, inside and outside the operating room - The Robot Report
The article discusses how robotics is increasingly transforming healthcare both inside operating rooms and throughout hospital environments, addressing critical challenges such as workforce shortages and budget constraints. By 2030, a global shortage of at least 10 million healthcare workers is expected, with the U.S. facing a significant physician deficit by 2036. Hospitals, especially in rural areas, are also grappling with tighter budgets due to federal funding cuts. Robotics, including automated guided vehicles for logistics and advanced surgical robots, offers a way to alleviate these pressures by automating repetitive tasks and enhancing surgical capabilities. Surgical robotics is becoming more accessible as competition grows and costs decrease, with companies like SS Innovations, Medtronic, and others developing new systems that integrate AI and machine learning. Advances in telesurgery allow expert surgeons to remotely guide or take over procedures, expanding patient access to specialized care and enabling remote training through tele-proctoring. Beyond the operating room, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of logistics robots to reduce staff exposure
roboticshealthcare-roboticssurgical-robotstelesurgeryAI-in-roboticsmedical-technologyrobotic-surgery-systemsWoman regains speech 18 years after stroke with brain implant
Eighteen years after suffering a brainstem stroke that left her with locked-in syndrome and near-total paralysis, Ann Johnson regained the ability to speak through an AI-powered brain-computer interface (BCI). The implant, placed over her brain’s speech motor cortex, detects neural signals when she attempts to speak and translates them via an AI decoder into audible words and facial animations on a digital avatar. Initially, the system had an eight-second delay due to sentence-based processing, but recent advances reported in 2025 have reduced this latency to about one second using a streaming AI architecture, enabling near-real-time communication. Johnson’s voice was personalized using recordings from her 2004 wedding speech, and she selected an avatar that mimics her facial expressions. The clinical trial, led by researchers at UC Berkeley and UCSF, aims to transform neuroprostheses from experimental devices into practical, plug-and-play clinical tools. Future developments may include wireless implants and photorealistic avatars to enhance natural interaction. The technology
robotAIbrain-computer-interfaceneuroprostheticsmedical-technologyspeech-restorationassistive-technologyUltrasound system recharges pacemakers without invasive surgery
A research team at the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST) in South Korea, led by Professor Jinho Chang, has developed a novel ultrasound-based wireless charging system for implantable medical devices such as pacemakers. This system uses dual piezoelectric layers to capture and convert ultrasound waves into electricity with over 20% higher efficiency than previous methods. The device achieved a power density of 497.47 milliwatts per square centimeter in water and a total output of 732.27 milliwatts, enabling it to fully charge a 140mAh battery in just 1.7 hours without invasive surgery. The technology was tested under realistic conditions using 30mm-thick pig tissue to simulate human anatomy, where it still delivered 312.34 milliwatts. In practical experiments, the system fully charged a 140mAh battery in 1 hour and 40 minutes underwater at a 30mm distance, and a 60mAh battery
energywireless-chargingultrasound-technologyimplantable-medical-devicesbattery-rechargingpiezoelectric-materialsmedical-technologyNeuralink brain chip trials launch in Britain for paralyzed patients
Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-implant company, has initiated its first European clinical trial in the UK, aiming to test its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology on seven patients with severe paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions like ALS. The trial, conducted in partnership with University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, involves implanting Neuralink’s N1 chip under the skull to enable patients to control digital devices such as smartphones and tablets using only their thoughts. This marks the UK as the first European country to host such a study and builds on Neuralink’s earlier human trials in the US, where five paralyzed patients have already used the chip to operate devices mentally. Neuralink’s N1 chip is a small device, about the size of a 10-pence coin, equipped with 128 ultra-thin threads that connect approximately 1,000 electrodes to the brain to read electrical activity and translate it into digital commands. The company
robotIoTbrain-computer-interfaceNeuralinkmedical-technologyassistive-technologyneurotechnologySwan EndoSurgical debuts to advance GI Robotics
Olympus has partnered with investment firm Revival Healthcare Capital to co-found Swan EndoSurgical, a new company focused on developing an advanced endoluminal robotic system for gastrointestinal (GI) patient care. The joint venture involves a potential investment of up to $458 million, with Revival holding a majority equity stake and Olympus maintaining significant participation and an option to acquire Swan at a predetermined value. This collaboration aims to enhance minimally invasive treatments by improving precision, efficiency, and ergonomics in GI procedures, building upon traditional endoscopy techniques used for early diagnosis and treatment of GI conditions such as cancer. The development of Swan EndoSurgical’s robotic system seeks to overcome the limitations of manual endoscopes by enabling flexible maneuvering and deployment of robotic arms within the GI tract, potentially allowing safer, more effective surgeries that avoid invasive methods. The company has already established an experienced leadership team and will be headquartered in the U.S. Olympus views this partnership as a strategic milestone to reshape the GI market by expanding procedural
roboticssurgical-roboticsmedical-technologyendoluminal-roboticshealthcare-innovationminimally-invasive-surgerygastrointestinal-roboticsThe Very Real Case for Brain-Computer Implants
The article discusses the emerging and rapidly advancing technology of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), focusing on the competitive efforts of companies like Synchron to develop commercial implants that enable direct communication between the human brain and digital devices. These implants allow users to control computers or phones through thought alone, a concept once confined to science fiction but now becoming a tangible reality. The piece highlights the significance of this technology in Silicon Valley's tech landscape and its potential to transform human-computer interaction. Additionally, the content is drawn from an episode of WIRED’s podcast "Uncanny Valley," where hosts and guests explore the implications, challenges, and progress in the BCI field. While the transcript includes casual conversation and podcast logistics, the core takeaway centers on the promise and ongoing development of brain implants as a groundbreaking interface technology, underscoring a heated race among companies to bring effective, user-friendly BCIs to market. However, the article’s transcript is incomplete and somewhat fragmented, limiting detailed insights into technical specifics or broader
brain-computer-interfaceneurotechnologybiomedical-implantshuman-machine-interactionneural-implantsbrain-computer-communicationmedical-technologyUS chip recreates LHC-scale energy for medical, quantum breakthroughs
Researchers at the University of Colorado Denver have developed a silicon-based quantum chip capable of generating electromagnetic fields comparable in intensity to those produced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, but within a palm-sized device. This breakthrough allows the creation and manipulation of extreme electromagnetic fields in a standard laboratory setting, overcoming previous limitations that required massive facilities like the LHC. The chip maintains stability despite high-energy particle oscillations and heat flow, enabling unprecedented observation of quantum electron gas activity. This innovation holds significant promise for advancing both fundamental physics and medical technology. One key potential application is the development of gamma-ray lasers ("grasers"), which could provide imaging at the atomic nucleus level, vastly improving medical diagnostics and treatments. Such lasers might even enable the targeted removal of cancer cells at the nano-molecular scale. Beyond medicine, the technology could facilitate exploration of fundamental questions in physics, such as probing the universe's fabric and investigating multiverse theories. The research marks a pivotal step forward in material science and quantum
energyquantum-technologyelectromagnetic-fieldssilicon-chipmedical-technologyparticle-beamsgamma-ray-laserZimmer Biomet to acquire Monogram Technologies for $177M - The Robot Report
Zimmer Biomet Holdings, a global medical technology company, announced its acquisition of Monogram Technologies, an orthopedic robotics firm, for $177 million. Monogram specializes in combining 3D printing, advanced machine vision, AI, and next-generation robotics, with a focus on semi- and fully autonomous robotic technologies for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Their CT-based, AI-navigated mBôs system received FDA clearance in March 2025 and is expected to be commercialized with Zimmer Biomet implants by early 2027. Monogram is also developing a fully autonomous version of this technology, which aims to improve safety, efficiency, and surgical outcomes. The acquisition will integrate Monogram’s technology into Zimmer Biomet’s existing ROSA platform, which currently supports multiple orthopedic applications including knee and shoulder replacements. Zimmer Biomet expects this deal to enhance its surgical robotics portfolio by adding advanced semi- and fully autonomous capabilities, thereby broadening its product range and increasing market share, particularly in
roboticssurgical-roboticsAIorthopedic-surgeryautonomous-robotsmedical-technologyZimmer-BiometMan’s deadly chest ‘time bomb’ removed using 3D-printed aorta model
Surgeons at Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital successfully performed a rare and complex operation to replace nearly the entire aorta of a man in his late 50s, whose vessel had ballooned to about four times its normal size, posing an imminent risk of fatal rupture. The life-threatening condition, described as a “ticking time bomb,” was discovered during routine monitoring. To prepare for the intricate nine-hour surgery, the team collaborated with the Herston Biofabrication Institute to create a life-sized, multi-material 3D-printed model of the patient’s distorted aorta. This tactile model, produced from detailed CT scans, allowed surgeons to rehearse the procedure more effectively than traditional two-dimensional imaging. During surgery, the patient’s body was cooled and circulation temporarily stopped to enable safe removal of the diseased aortic arch, which had expanded to about eight centimeters—far beyond the normal two to three centimeters. The damaged section was replaced with a synthetic graft resembling “flexible, waterproof jackets.”
3D-printingsynthetic-graftmedical-materialsbiofabricationvascular-surgerymulti-material-printingmedical-technologyCRISPR-powered home test detects cancer, HIV; costs less than $1
MIT researchers have developed an inexpensive, durable DNA-based sensor that uses CRISPR technology to detect diseases such as cancer and HIV at home for under $1. The sensor operates by employing a CRISPR-associated enzyme, Cas12, which, upon recognizing a target genetic sequence like a cancer biomarker or viral DNA, activates and cleaves nearby DNA strands on the sensor’s electrode. This cleavage alters the electrical signal, allowing disease detection via a handheld device. A key innovation is a polymer coating made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that protects the DNA on the sensor, enabling it to remain stable and functional for up to two months even under high temperatures (up to 150°F), overcoming previous limitations that required refrigeration and fresh preparation. The sensor consists of a gold leaf electrode laminated onto plastic, with DNA anchored by a sulfur-based molecule, and can analyze various sample types including urine, saliva, and nasal swabs. The technology has successfully detected PCA3, a prostate cancer biomarker
materialsCRISPRDNA-sensorelectrochemical-sensorpolymer-coatingdiagnosticsmedical-technologyDistalmotion makes its first multirobot sale in the U.S. - The Robot Report
Distalmotion has achieved its first multirobot sale in the U.S. with AdventHealth, a large healthcare system operating 50 hospitals across nine states, adopting its DEXTER robotic surgery system to expand minimally invasive procedures. AdventHealth has already completed initial surgeries using DEXTER in its outpatient department, highlighting the system’s alignment with goals for flexibility and efficiency. The DEXTER system, developed by the Lausanne-based company with U.S. offices in Cleveland, is commercially available in both the U.S. and Europe and is designed to simplify operations and broaden access to robotic surgery, particularly in outpatient hospital departments and ambulatory surgical centers. The DEXTER robot addresses the rising demand for surgical robotics in high-volume soft-tissue procedures moving to outpatient settings by offering a mobile, compact, and quickly deployable system that integrates easily into existing workflows. Unique features include a sterile console that allows surgeons to perform bedside tasks without breaking sterility or redocking, and an open architecture compatible with existing instruments
roboticssurgical-robotsmedical-technologyhealthcare-innovationrobotic-surgeryminimally-invasive-surgeryhospital-technologyForSight Robotics raises $125M for cataract surgery tech
ForSight Robotics has secured $125 million in a Series B funding round led by Eclipse, with participation from strategic investors including board member Fred Moll, the Adani Group, Reiya Ventures, and existing backers. This latest round brings the company’s total funding to $195 million. The capital will accelerate the development and commercialization of ForSight’s Oryom platform, which is promoted as the world’s first robotic surgery system specifically designed for cataract and other eye disease treatments. Oryom integrates AI algorithms, advanced computer vision, and miniaturized mechanical components to enable precise, consistent, and ergonomically improved ophthalmic surgeries, with capabilities to access both anterior and posterior segments of the eye. ForSight plans to initiate first-in-human clinical trials of the Oryom system within the year. Co-founder and CMO Dr. Joseph Nathan emphasized ophthalmology as a significant new frontier for surgical robotics, comparable in market potential and clinical need to general surgery’s earlier robotics revolution. The platform aims to
roboticssurgical-roboticsophthalmic-surgeryAI-in-healthcarerobotic-surgery-platformmedical-technologyForSight-RoboticsSS Innovations completes its first cardiac surgery in the Americas with SSi Mantra - The Robot Report
SS Innovations International Inc. has completed its first robotic cardiac surgery in the Americas using its SSi Mantra 3 surgical robotic system. On June 8, 2024, Dr. Juan Zuniga at Interhospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, performed a robotic Atrial Septal Defect closure, marking the first such procedure in the Western Hemisphere with this technology. The minimally invasive surgery, which repairs a hole between the heart’s upper chambers, was successful, with the patient recovering well. Interhospital is the first South American hospital to install the SSi Mantra system, which has already been used for various complex surgeries since its installation. The SSi Mantra system is described as a user-friendly, modular, multi-arm robotic platform featuring three to five robotic arms, a 3D 4K monitor, an ergonomic surgeon command center, and advanced imaging capabilities that enhance precision and safety. It supports over 40 types of robotic endo-surgical instruments across multiple specialties, including
robotsurgical-roboticsrobotic-surgerycardiac-surgerymedical-technologyminimally-invasive-surgeryhealthcare-roboticsHistoSonics Edison system gains early market access in the U.K. - The Robot Report
robotultrasoundhistotripsymedical-technologynon-invasive-treatmentliver-tumorshealthcare-innovationJ&J reports positive Monarch robotic bronchoscopy data - The Robot Report
robotrobotic-surgerybronchoscopymedical-technologyminimally-invasive-proceduresJohnson-&-Johnsonhealthcare-innovationMicrorobot system is designed to float inside stroke patient for autonomous thrombectomy - The Robot Report
robotthrombectomymicrorobotmedical-technologyautonomous-systemsdigital-twinhealthcare-innovationNVIDIA accepts Ekso Bionics into its Connect program - The Robot Report
robotexoskeletonmobilityartificial-intelligencerehabilitationhuman-enhancementmedical-technologyIntuitive Surgical is making a CEO change
robotsurgical-roboticsIntuitive-SurgicalCEO-changemedical-technologyda-Vinci-systemrobotic-assisted-surgery