Medical Microinstruments has announced the successful completion of the first U.S. clinical procedures using the Symani surgical robot. These procedures were carried out at Penn Medicine, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in collaboration with the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and the Division of Plastic Surgery.
The procedures included a “free bone transfer” for a patient with a traumatic injury, which involved transferring a segment of bone and skin from the patient’s leg to their forearm. This surgery required the revascularization of the bone segment using the microsurgical robot to reconnect tiny blood vessels. Another procedure was performed on a patient at risk of leg amputation due to an infected knee prosthesis, where muscle and skin from the patient’s back were used to repair the knee wound, again employing the robot for revascularization.
Mark Toland, CEO of MMI, highlighted the importance of these initial cases, stating that this represents a significant milestone in the expansion of the Symani Surgical System. He emphasized that the system, which has recently received FDA De Novo Classification, is the only platform of its kind approved in the U.S. for reconstructive microsurgery. This technology is aimed at addressing the complexities of microsurgery and supermicrosurgery, including the anastomosis and suturing of small anatomical structures such as blood and lymphatic vessels.
The Symani Surgical System enables surgeons to emulate the natural movements of the human hand on a micro scale, potentially increasing the availability of advanced surgical techniques. This advancement is expected to enhance the quality of life for patients, increase the number of surgeons capable of performing complex surgeries, and allow hospitals to broaden their surgical programs.
