CMR Surgical (CMR), a Cambridge-based medical device company, announced that it is launching its Versius Surgical Robotic System into the German healthcare market. The Saxon hospital Klinikum Chemnitz has integrated the tool, which provides state-of-the-art technological support to surgeons and medical teams in the field of minimal-access surgery (MAS).
The system will be used to perform a range of procedures, while the hospital has also joined forces with international experts in a programme to research how Versius can also be used for thoracic surgery.
By integrating Versius into the Klinikum Chemnitz, a forward-thinking public and university hospital known for its integrated digital healthcare solutions, CMR is expanding into a promising market and providing it with accessible and affordable MAS solutions.
Indeed, Germany is known to be at the forefront of innovation in healthcare technology, with the government having pledged €3 billion last year to support the digitisation of hospitals.
Minimal-access surgery, also known as laparoscopic or keyhole surgery, has among its advantages faster recovery and better patient outcomes compared to open surgery. Although the method is constantly evolving, it still presents limitations as the procedures are often long and complex, and without the use of robotics, can be very challenging for surgeons.
So far, Versius has been integrated in over 1,000 clinical cases in the UK, while it was introduced in France last September and in Australian hospitals earlier this month.
Easily adaptable to different surgical operations, the tool is also capable of collecting important data that provides feedback to the surgeon through connected applications which can improve surgical care.
A Promising Market
Estimated at €4.2 billion in 2017, the surgical robotics market is growing rapidly. Its benefits for healthcare professionals and patients, as well as its potential for reducing medical costs, have led to the estimate that it will be worth €10.4 billion by 2025.
The robotics sector seems to be gaining more and more space within the healthtech industry, with companies such as Freehand and eCential Robotics raising significant funds for the development of their products. Indeed, earlier this year, UK-based Freehand decided to allocate €1.15 million to support the expansion of its surgical camera controllers, while eCential Robotics secured nearly €100 million in funding to support its growth.
The adoption of robotics in the healthcare sector is part of a wider initiative to support the mental health of NHS workers during the pandemic, with the UK government committing €17.24 million to ensure the well-being of clinicians.
Versius Paves the Way
“This launch in Germany shows the value of Versius for one of the world’s most renowned healthcare systems. We are delighted to install our first system today in one of Germany’s most forward-looking hospitals. Germany is a market leader in Europe and paves the way for us to accelerate the deployment of Versius in a number of new markets in Europe in the coming months”, said Per Vegard Nerseth, CEO of CMR.
Professor Dr. Lutz Mirow, Chief Physician of General and Visceral Surgery at the hospital, added: “At the Klinikum Chemnitz, we are proud to be able to say that we are at the forefront of adopting new medical technologies to improve patient outcomes, and the Versius facility supports this position. We are delighted to be able to work closely with the RMC on a clinical programme to significantly boost the adoption of robotic ASM in the country”.