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The surgeon console for the Hominis Surgical System. | Source: Memic Innovative Surgery

Memic Innovative Surgery announced that HCA Florida Kenall Hospital and The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial have completed the first patient procedures in the U.S. using Memic’s Hominis Surgical System. At the hospitals, Hominis performed robotic-assisted transvaginal hysterectomies. 

The Hominis Surgical System is used for robotic-assisted transvaginal procedures, like benign hysterectomies, salpingectomies, oophorectomies and ovarian cyst removals. The surgical robot is equipped with miniature humanoid-shaped arms with shoulder, elbow and wrist joints that provide high dexterity and articulation. 

Hominis was designed to replicated the motions and capabilities of a surgeon’s arms. The robot is able to introduce multiple instruments into the body through a single portal. It offers multi-planar flexibility and 360º of articulation. 

“With the completion of our first surgical procedure, we are excited to offer this new technology to a wide range of women who need to undergo benign gynecological procedures. This new robotic system leverages the transvaginal approach, which is known to offer less pain, lower infection rates, faster recovery, and virtually no visible scarring,” Moises Lichtinger, MD, gynecologist at University of Miami Health System and The Women’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial, said.

Hominis is the first and only FDA-authorized system for transvaginal robotic surgery. It was granted de novo marketing authorization from the FDA in February 2021 for use in single site, natural orifice laparoscopic-assisted transvaginal benign surgical procedures. 

“It is very encouraging to see the first two U.S. commercial sites actively performing benign gynecological procedures using our Hominis System and we are grateful for their support,” Dvir Cohen, president and CEO of Memic, said. “Hominis is well positioned as a disruptive technology that will transform the way surgeons perform minimally invasive robotic-assisted procedures. We look forward to its continued use in the South Florida region and widespread adoption as we work to expand across the U.S. and worldwide.”

Memic was founded in 2013 and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel, with a subsidiary based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company announced in August 2021 that was being acquired by MedTech Acquisition Corporation, a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). 

Earlier this year, in February 2022, Memic announced that it would be working with VirtaMed to develop virtual reality simulations for surgeons training on the Hominis system. The two companies plan to develop an abstract training program in which surgeons train on virtual reality consoles with kinematic feedback.