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TransEnterix received CE Mark approval for its Intelligent Surgical Unit for the Senhance system. The Intelligent Surgical Unit (ISU) enables machine vision capabilities on the Senhance surgical system, providing digital laparoscopic programs in Europe to be augmented by intelligence capabilities in surgical settings. The FDA cleared the ISU in March 2020.

Research Triangle Park, N.C.-basd TransEnterix’s ISU platform is designed to recognize certain objects and locations in the surgical field, offering surgical teams improved collaboration by sharing the surgeon’s console view in real-time across the entire operating room.

ISU features 3D point-to-point measurement and anatomical structure identification to enhance the digital laparoscopic experience with Senhance. ISU is compatible with Senhance and with third-party vision systems that are currently supported by Senhance.

“Augmented intelligence powered by machine vision will be one of the primary drivers in transforming surgery to enhance the capabilities of surgeons,” TransEnterix president & CEO Anthony Fernando said in the release. “We have already successfully implemented augmented intelligence in the U.S. with the Senhance System after receiving FDA clearance last year. We are pleased to expand this important capability to our broader global user base.”

The Intelligent Surgical Unit helps doctors visualize the surgical field with the Senhance surgical system. Credit: TransEnterix

Senhance is intended to assist in the accurate control of laparoscopic instruments for procedures including gynecological surgery, colorectal surgery, cholecystectomy, and inguinal hernia repair. It is approved for use in the U.S., the EU, Japan, and select other countries.

TransEnterix in 2019 sold only three Senhance systems, which which boast haptic feedback, surgeon camera control via eye sensing and improved ergonomics.

“Real-time augmented intelligence is a powerful new capability made possible by digitizing surgery,” said Dr. Amit Trivedi, chair of surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical Center and the first surgeon to utilize the ISU in augmented surgery with Senhance. “I’ve been able to benefit from the new capabilities of the Senhance System in over 40 surgeries, to seamlessly move the camera to specific points in the surgical field and track with my instruments as I perform delicate tasks. This new technology is interpreting and analyzing information from the surgery, and the additional possibilities of this platform are very exciting.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on our sister website MassDevice.