Latest news with #daVinciSurgicalSystem
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
PGI performs India's first robot-assisted reverse vasectomy
Chandigarh: In a landmark advancement in urological surgery and male infertility treatment , the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy - a sophisticated procedure to reverse vasectomy - using cutting-edge robotic technology. The breakthrough surgery was performed on July 9, 2025, by a skilled team led by Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, Dr Girdhar Bora, both Additional Professors, and Prof Ravi Mohan from the Department of Urology. This pioneering intervention replaces the traditional microscope-based technique with the precision of robotic surgery, marking a major leap forward in reproductive microsurgery in India. The patient, a 43-year-old male presenting with secondary infertility following a vasectomy, underwent the procedure using the da Vinci Surgical System . He was discharged the very next day, signaling a swift and successful recovery. Vasovasostomy, commonly known as vasectomy reversal, is a highly intricate microsurgical operation that involves reconnecting the severed ends of the vas deferens to restore the passage of sperm and enable natural conception. Traditionally dependent on high-powered microscopes, the PGIMER team broke new ground by harnessing robotic assistance - offering three-dimensional magnified visualization, enhanced precision, and superior suturing stability. "This innovation reflects PGIMER's unwavering commitment to integrating next-generation technology into patient care," said Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, the lead surgeon. "Robot-assisted vasovasostomy not only improves accuracy but also reduces surgeon fatigue and eliminates tremor - allowing the use of ultra-fine sutures, even thinner than a strand of human hair. It opens a new horizon for couples desiring natural conception post-vasectomy." Echoing this sentiment, Prof Ravi Mohan highlighted the broader implications: "This successful procedure showcases the versatility of robotic platforms beyond their conventional use in cancer and reconstructive surgeries. It paves the way for expanded applications in andrology and microsurgery." With this surgical first, India joins an elite global league of centres equipped to offer robot-assisted vasovasostomy. PGIMER plans to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals to encourage larger clinical adoption across India and beyond. The team credited the vision and support of Prof Uttam Mete, Head of the Urology Department, and Prof Vivek Lal, director of PGIMER, for enabling such high-precision innovations. Their guidance, they said, played a vital role in turning this milestone into a reality. This achievement not only reinforces PGIMER's reputation as a centre of excellence but also signals a promising future for male infertility treatment in India, said Lal. Chandigarh: In a landmark advancement in urological surgery and male infertility treatment, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy - a sophisticated procedure to reverse vasectomy - using cutting-edge robotic technology. The breakthrough surgery was performed on July 9, 2025, by a skilled team led by Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, Dr Girdhar Bora, both Additional Professors, and Prof Ravi Mohan from the Department of Urology. This pioneering intervention replaces the traditional microscope-based technique with the precision of robotic surgery, marking a major leap forward in reproductive microsurgery in India. The patient, a 43-year-old male presenting with secondary infertility following a vasectomy, underwent the procedure using the da Vinci Surgical System. He was discharged the very next day, signaling a swift and successful recovery. Vasovasostomy, commonly known as vasectomy reversal, is a highly intricate microsurgical operation that involves reconnecting the severed ends of the vas deferens to restore the passage of sperm and enable natural conception. Traditionally dependent on high-powered microscopes, the PGIMER team broke new ground by harnessing robotic assistance - offering three-dimensional magnified visualization, enhanced precision, and superior suturing stability. "This innovation reflects PGIMER's unwavering commitment to integrating next-generation technology into patient care," said Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, the lead surgeon. "Robot-assisted vasovasostomy not only improves accuracy but also reduces surgeon fatigue and eliminates tremor - allowing the use of ultra-fine sutures, even thinner than a strand of human hair. It opens a new horizon for couples desiring natural conception post-vasectomy." Echoing this sentiment, Prof Ravi Mohan highlighted the broader implications: "This successful procedure showcases the versatility of robotic platforms beyond their conventional use in cancer and reconstructive surgeries. It paves the way for expanded applications in andrology and microsurgery." With this surgical first, India joins an elite global league of centres equipped to offer robot-assisted vasovasostomy. PGIMER plans to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals to encourage larger clinical adoption across India and beyond. The team credited the vision and support of Prof Uttam Mete, Head of the Urology Department, and Prof Vivek Lal, director of PGIMER, for enabling such high-precision innovations. Their guidance, they said, played a vital role in turning this milestone into a reality. This achievement not only reinforces PGIMER's reputation as a centre of excellence but also signals a promising future for male infertility treatment in India, said Lal.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
PGI performs India's first robot-assisted reverse vasectomy
Chandigarh: In a landmark advancement in urological surgery and male infertility treatment, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy — a sophisticated procedure to reverse vasectomy — using cutting-edge robotic technology. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The breakthrough surgery was performed on July 9, 2025, by a skilled team led by Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, Dr Girdhar Bora, both Additional Professors, and Prof Ravi Mohan from the Department of Urology. This pioneering intervention replaces the traditional microscope-based technique with the precision of robotic surgery, marking a major leap forward in reproductive microsurgery in India. The patient, a 43-year-old male presenting with secondary infertility following a vasectomy, underwent the procedure using the da Vinci Surgical System. He was discharged the very next day, signaling a swift and successful recovery. Vasovasostomy, commonly known as vasectomy reversal, is a highly intricate microsurgical operation that involves reconnecting the severed ends of the vas deferens to restore the passage of sperm and enable natural conception. Traditionally dependent on high-powered microscopes, the PGIMER team broke new ground by harnessing robotic assistance — offering three-dimensional magnified visualization, enhanced precision, and superior suturing stability. "This innovation reflects PGIMER's unwavering commitment to integrating next-generation technology into patient care," said Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, the lead surgeon. "Robot-assisted vasovasostomy not only improves accuracy but also reduces surgeon fatigue and eliminates tremor — allowing the use of ultra-fine sutures, even thinner than a strand of human hair. It opens a new horizon for couples desiring natural conception post-vasectomy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " Echoing this sentiment, Prof Ravi Mohan highlighted the broader implications: "This successful procedure showcases the versatility of robotic platforms beyond their conventional use in cancer and reconstructive surgeries. It paves the way for expanded applications in andrology and microsurgery." With this surgical first, India joins an elite global league of centres equipped to offer robot-assisted vasovasostomy. PGIMER plans to publish the results in peer-reviewed journals to encourage larger clinical adoption across India and beyond. The team credited the vision and support of Prof Uttam Mete, Head of the Urology Department, and Prof Vivek Lal, director of PGIMER, for enabling such high-precision innovations. Their guidance, they said, played a vital role in turning this milestone into a reality. This achievement not only reinforces PGIMER's reputation as a centre of excellence but also signals a promising future for male infertility treatment in India, said Lal.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
PGIMER doctors perform India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy
Doctors at PGIMER Chandigarh have achieved a groundbreaking feat by successfully performing India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy. The urology team, led by Dr. Aditya Prakash Sharma, used the da Vinci Surgical System for enhanced precision in the male infertility surgery. This innovative approach offers new hope for couples seeking natural conception after vasectomy, marking a significant advancement in andrology and microsurgery. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research ( PGIMER ) here on Thursday said that a team of its doctors from the urology department have successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy "In a significant milestone for Indian urology, Dr Aditya Prakash Sharma, Additional Professor, Dr Girdhar Bora, Additional Professor and Prof Ravi Mohan from the Department of Urology at PGIMER, Chandigarh, have successfully performed India's first robot-assisted vasovasostomy on July 9," said a statement by the institute."This pioneering procedure offers a modern alternative to the conventional microscope-based technique used in male infertility surgery," the statement patient, a 43-year-old man presented with secondary infertility due to vasectomy, was discharged the next day following surgery."Traditionally performed using an operating microscope, this case marked a paradigm shift as the surgery was conducted using the da Vinci Surgical System, providing enhanced precision, stability, and three-dimensional magnified visualization," the statement said."This innovation reflects the PGIMER's commitment to bringing cutting-edge technology into clinical practice. Robot-assisted vasovasostomy allows for meticulous suturing using extremely thin sutures (thinner than the diameter of human hair), while reducing surgeon fatigue and tremor," said Dr Sharma, the lead surgeon."Robot-assisted vasovasostomy not only expands the scope of robotic surgery in andrology but also opens new hope for couples seeking natural conception after vasectomy," he to the PGIMER statement, Prof Mohan said, "This successful case demonstrates the versatility of robotic systems beyond cancer surgeries and reconstructive procedures. It sets the stage for broader applications in andrology and microsurgery."With this achievement, the PGIMER joins a small group of global centres that have performed robot-assisted vasovasostomy, placing India on the map in this advanced surgical team plans to publish their experience in peer-reviewed literature, paving the way for larger clinical applications, the statement said. Vasectomy reversal or vasovasostomy is a procedure in which, after a vasectomy, the blocked tubes are reconnected to restore fertility in it is done using magnification under an operating vasovasostomy is a modern technique in which, instead of using a microscope, the surgeon uses a robot to join the tiny sperm-carrying tubes with great technique improves accuracy and increases the chances of a successful outcome.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Experimental surgical robot performs gallbladder procedure autonomously
Bengaluru: An experimental AI-guided robot can autonomously perform a delicate, complicated phase of a common gallbladder operation , marking a major step toward automated medical procedures, researchers said on Wednesday. Existing surgical robots are remotely controlled by surgeons. The new system uses artificial intelligence to make independent decisions and adapts to unexpected complications during operations, said Axel Krieger of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, who led the research. He likened it to an autonomous vehicle that can "navigate any road, in any condition, responding intelligently to whatever it encounters." "This advancement moves us from robots that can execute specific surgical tasks to ones that truly understand surgical procedures," he said. The SRT-H robot was trained via an AI framework known as language-guided imitation learning, using videos of surgeons performing gallbladder removal surgeries on pig cadavers, the researchers reported in Science Robotics. The robot was tested on eight varying sets of pig gallbladders and livers that had been removed from the animals. Separating the gallbladder from the liver takes several minutes and involves "diverse tool use, including grabbing, clipping, and cutting - skills common in real surgical procedures," along with decision-making and adaptation, the researchers said. The pig organs and blood vessels in the tests varied widely in appearance and anatomy, "mirroring the diversity encountered in human surgeries," they said. While the robot achieved 100% accuracy in the surgeries, it took longer to perform the work than a human surgeon. Commercially available surgical robots include Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci Surgical System, which has been used in over 12 million procedures globally since receiving FDA approval in 2000. Unlike SRT-H, the da Vinci system relies entirely on human surgeons to control its movements remotely. The global surgical robotics market is approaching $10 billion annually with about 2.7 million robotic procedures performed in 2024, Baird analyst David Rescott estimated. Eventually, autonomous surgical robots could help address surgeon shortages, minimize human error, and provide consistent, high-quality care in underserved regions, the researchers said.
Business Wire
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Virtual Incision Appoints Jim Alecxih as Chief Executive Officer
LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virtual Incision Corporation, the developer of the MIRA Surgical System authorized by the FDA through the De Novo regulatory pathway, today announced the appointment of Jim Alecxih as chief executive officer. Alecxih, a recognized commercial leader in the medical device industry, brings more than 30 years of experience advancing transformative surgical technologies worldwide, including a distinguished tenure at Intuitive Surgical, where he played a pivotal role in the adoption and growth of the da Vinci Surgical System. Virtual Incision is now preparing for the accelerated development and commercialization of their next system, M2, with plans for a series of FDA submissions in various specialties. M2 is a miniaturized, single port surgical robotic system designed to be smart, simple and small, with the potential to minimize the cost and complexity of current mainframe cart-based surgical robotic systems. M2 will be optimized to bring robotic-assisted surgery to hospitals and surgical settings that lack access to surgical robotics technologies. Mr. Alecxih previously served as CEO of DH Medical, an AI software company, and has held executive leadership roles across multiple healthcare startups and growth-stage companies. At Intuitive Surgical, he led U.S. sales and was instrumental in driving adoption of robotic-assisted surgery among hospitals and health systems nationwide. 'The opportunity to lead Virtual Incision at this pivotal time is an extraordinary honor,' said Jim Alecxih, CEO of Virtual Incision. 'I believe deeply in the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to both patients, surgeons and hospitals. M2 has the potential to dramatically expand access to robotic-assisted surgery in rural hospitals, HOPD and ASC settings, and around the world. Virtual Incision's visionary approach is to ensure that robotic-assisted surgery is more accessible, flexible and scalable for a broader range of operating environments. I'm thrilled to join this talented team and help accelerate our impact on patients and providers.' 'We are delighted to welcome Mr. Alecxih to Virtual Incision at this significant stage in the company's growth,' said Tyler Stowater, partner at Bluestem Capital and Virtual Incision board member. 'Mr. Alecxih's exceptional leadership skills and deep industry knowledge make him the ideal person to lead us into our next phase of growth and innovation.' Mr. Alecxih joins Virtual Incision at a time of significant momentum. In 2025, the company has been honored as a finalist or winner in three prestigious innovation awards: Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies SXSW Innovation Award Fierce MedTech's Fierce 15 Virtual Incision's MIRA Surgical System is designed to offer a portable, scalable solution for minimally invasive procedures with a small footprint and a simple setup. With M2, the company aims to expand clinical capabilities and will continue redefining the future of robotic-assisted surgery. About the MIRA Surgical System MIRA is the world's first miniaturized robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. Its small, sleek form factor is designed to offer the benefits of RAS during colectomy procedures without the logistical inefficiencies of traditional mainframe robotics. The easily accessible device weighs approximately two pounds (less than one kg) and offers internal triangulation with shoulders, arms, and infinite wrist roll inside of the body. It can be used in any operating room – a dedicated operating room is unnecessary. With its drape- and dock-free design and portability, MIRA is quick to set up, clean up, and move between cases. Its conveniently accessible design positions it to be used as a standalone system or a complementary tool for facilities that already own a legacy surgical robotic system. With MIRA, every operating room is RAS-ready. About Virtual Incision Virtual Incision is on a mission to simplify robotic-assisted surgery (RAS), so more patients and their surgeons can access its benefits every day. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, and holding over two hundred patents and patent applications, the company developed MIRA, the first-of-its-kind miniature RAS system. Virtual Incision's goal is to make every operating room RAS-ready. For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn. Important Safety Information The MIRA Surgical System is intended for prescription use only. Patients should talk to their doctor to decide if surgery with a MIRA Surgical System is right for them. For important safety information, indications for use, risks, and warnings, please refer to Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains statements that constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to, statements regarding our plans, beliefs, expectations, assumptions, and other statements that are not necessarily historical facts. You are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve risks and uncertainties. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements. This communication also contains market data related to our business and industry which includes projections that are based on several assumptions we believe are reasonable and most significant to the projections as of the date of this communication. If any of our assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may significantly differ from our projections based on these assumptions.
