World’s first surgery using Virtual Incision’s MIRA miniature robotic system

The robotically assisted right hemicolectomy procedure, which was completed using the MIRA surgical platform via a single incision within the navel, was performed as part of a clinical study of MIRA under an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) from the FDA. The study will be conducted at a limited number of U.S. hospitals in support of the system’s regulatory pathway to approval.

The MIRA Surgical Platform is a portable robot that allows surgeons to perform real-time minimally invasive single incision surgeries in any hospital or health center, without the need for the dedicated space or infrastructure typically required for “mainframe” robotic systems. Weighing only two pounds, the miniature platform has full robotic capabilities, and can easily be moved from room to room. The system is designed to enable complex, multi-quadrant abdominal surgeries using a simple, handheld device.

Many hospitals currently offering robotic surgeries face challenges with scheduling because the demand for minimally invasive procedures exceeds the number of available robots. Capital costs often prohibit hospitals from purchasing additional platforms. MIRA aims to present a cost-effective alternative solution that will expand access to a larger number of patients.