TOKYO, September 4, 2024 – Medicaroid Corporation, a pioneer in surgical robotics technology in Japan, has announced that its flagship product, the hinotori Surgical Robot System, has secured regulatory approval from the Medical Device Authority of the Ministry of Health in Malaysia.
Development Milestones
2020: The hinotori Surgical Robot System gained its initial manufacturing and marketing approval from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare for urological applications and was officially launched in December.
2022: Further approvals in Japan expanded its use to gastroenterology and gynecology, following which it has been employed in over 2,000 surgical procedures across numerous Japanese medical institutions.
2023: Regulatory approval was extended to Singapore on September 22, with the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approving its use across urology, gastroenterology, and gynecology.
2023: A landmark remote surgery demonstration was conducted on October 11, featuring a surgical console at the National University of Singapore and the hinotori system at Medicaroid’s Smart Lab at Fujita Health University in Japan. A novice surgeon performed the operation under the real-time remote guidance of Professor Kazunari Uyama from the Sysmex Remote Robotic Experiment Facility in Tokyo.
2024: Japanese regulatory authorities expanded the system's applications to include thoracic surgery in April.
About the hinotori Surgical Robot System
Developed by Medicaroid Corporation, Japan's first domestically-produced surgical assistance robot system embodies a number of innovative features designed to enhance surgical efficiency and safety:
Open Operating Space: The compact design of the operating arm provides ample room, thus improving operational efficiency.
Reduced Arm Interference: Enhanced with an eight-degree-of-freedom operating arm that moves fluidly, minimizing disruption to surgical assistants.
No-Docking Design: Unlike traditional systems, the hinotori employs a software-set pivot point for the instrument, eliminating the need to physically dock with the trocar, thus freeing up workspace.
High-Definition Imaging: Equipped with a full HD 3D system that delivers crisp, clear images to facilitate precision in surgical procedures.
Ergonomic Console: The surgeon's console is ergonomically designed to be adjustable, enhancing comfort and reducing fatigue during long procedures.
Integrated with SOT-100 Vercia Surgical Table: This table is tailored for the hinotori system, offering various positioning modes suitable for a range of surgical environments, including hybrid operating rooms.
Medicaroid aims to redefine surgical robotics in Japan and eventually replace the Da Vinci systems with its innovative solutions, tailored specifically to meet the needs of Japanese healthcare professionals.
Company Background
Medicaroid Corporation was founded in 2013 as a joint venture between Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex. Stemming from a collaboration that began with the Medical Robot Research Group in 2012, the venture combines Kawasaki's expertise in industrial robotics with Sysmex’s extensive medical and diagnostic technology network. Medicaroid, Inc., established in the United States in 2015, serves as the company’s international business hub. The launch of the SOT-100 Vercia surgical table in 2017 marked Medicaroid’s official entry into the medical industry.
Today, Medicaroid continues to innovate, aiming to expand the hinotori Surgical Robot System’s applications to support minimally invasive procedures for a variety of conditions including prostate, kidney, and bladder cancer.
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