At the Embedded Systems Conference, a MassRobotics co-founder explained where developers and investors should look for successful commercial robots.
Intuitive Surgical da Vinci SP robot wins clearance for new procedures
Intuitive Surgical won another indication from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its da Vinci SP robot-assisted surgery device. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said the FDA added single-port radical tonsillectomy and tongue base resection procedures to the mix. Initially cleared in April 2014 for urological procedures, in June 2018 the federal safety watchdog added a clearance…
Robotics investments February 2019
Robotics investments totaled at least $4.3 billion in February 2019 in a steep increase from January, which had about $1.4 billion. In addition, companies reported approximately $3.9 billion worth of acquisitions this past month. Any political or economic jitters have not yet harmed the mood for robot deals. The Robotic Industries Association noted yesterday that robot…
Ion lung biopsy system from Intuitive Surgical wins FDA approval
Intuitive Surgical Inc. yesterday said that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved its Ion system. The robotic endoluminal system is designed to enable doctors to conduct minimally invasive biopsies deep within the lung. Ion includes an articulating robotic catheter with an outer diameter of only 3.5 mm that is able to move 180 degrees in…
Intuitive Surgical continues to dominate medical robotics space
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published by our sister publication Medical Design & Outsourcing. Intuitive Surgical isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to the surgical robotics field it dominates. The Sunnyvale, Calif.–based company is seeking to stay competitive through technologies, including computer-controlled navigated robotic catheters, contrast agents to improve imaging during procedures, and…
Q&A: Intuitive Surgical chief medical officer Dr. Myriam Curet
Robots are making their way into operating rooms around the world, acting as extensions of the surgeon. Intuitive Surgical, a mainstay in the robotic-assisted surgery field, has positioned its technologies as helping surgeons boost their performance and offer minimally-invasive options to patients. The company’s chief medical officer, Dr. Myriam Curet, shared her experience as a…
Intuitive Surgical pays $274m, closes $2B share buyback deal
Robotic surgical giant Intuitive Surgical (NSDQ:ISRG) paid $274 million to Goldman Sachs to close a nearly year-long buyback of its common stock, according to an SEC filing posted yesterday The payback was part of a total $3 billion stock repurchasing deal the company initiated on January 27, in which is paid $2 billion for an…
Intuitive Surgical to integrate GE Healthcare tech in Korea
Intuitive Surgical Korea signed a memorandum of understanding with GE Healthcare Korea aimed at improving the clinical applications of robotic-assisted surgery. Under the agreement, GE Healthcare Korea will provide its CS600 anesthesia machine, which supports multiple ventilation modes tailored to patients, and its patient monitoring technologies as well as needed training and services assistance to Intuitive…
A dilemma of high risk high reward
The following article by Frank Tobe, editor and publisher of The Robot Report, first appeared on Robohub.org in their special focus series: High-risk / High-reward. Often funding sources – the groups taking the risk – are not the beneficiaries of the rewards of the venture. Intuitive Surgical and Rethink Robotics are two examples. NSF, DARPA and…
Favorable jury verdict may offset flurry of bad publicity for Intuitive Surgical
By Frank Tobe, Editor and Publisher, The Robot Report UPDATED: 5-24-13 Jury finds Intuitive NOT GUILTY. Scroll to end to see details. One of robotics’ biggest stars, Intuitive Surgical (NASDAQ:ISRG), and their da Vinci robotic surgical systems, is receiving a lot of unfavorable media attention – including a 4-part “exposé” by MSNBC – because: A…
Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Robotic Start-up Companies
By Frank Tobe, Editor and Publisher, The Robot Report Fort Mason, San Francisco. Host to the Engadget Expand event held last weekend. FormLabs’ Form 1 $3,300 hi-res 3D printer. At last weekend’s Engadget Expand event in Fort Mason, San Francisco, Kickstarter‘s co-founder Yancey Strickler started off the show with a presentation of many of Kickstarter’s…
Disruptive Robotics
By Frank Tobe, Editor and Publisher, The Robot Report Catherine Mohr and her da Vinci Surgical System. On February 1st of this year, Catherine Mohr, Director of Medical Research and chief spokesperson for Intuitive Surgical (ISRG:NASDAQ), gave a talk on the campus of CMU. (Video of talk and Q&A). I watched the video wherein Mohr pointed out…