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EndoQuest, Virtuoso Advance Robotic Minimally Invasive Surgery

Medical Technology

Business Honor
20 May, 2025

Robotic innovations from EndoQuest and Virtuoso advance minimally invasive surgery for complex lesion removal.

EndoQuest Robotics and Virtuoso Surgical have announced significant advancements in driving robotic platforms for minimally invasive procedures. Houston-based EndoQuest Robotics reported it has successfully completed the first procedures in its pivotal Paradigm clinical trial at HCA Houston Healthcare Medical Center. The trial, cleared by the FDA for Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) in December, is assessing the company's robotic endoluminal surgery system for colorectal lesion removal. The robot allows for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) via natural body orifices to treat complex lesions of the rectum and sigmoid colon. Although ESD is popular in much of Asia, its technical requirements have limited its use in the U.S. EndoQuest's robotic technique hopes to reduce this obstacle, providing a minimally invasive option for the conventional colectomy.

The Paradigm study will involve 50 patients in five large U.S. hospitals, including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Brigham and Women's Hospital. After completion of the trial, EndoQuest intends to submit a de novo request to obtain FDA marketing clearance for the device.

In the meantime, Virtuoso Surgical of Nashville has finished the first six cases in its Viable trial at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. The robotic system of the company, which includes dual needle-sized manipulators, was applied to excision of bladder lesions in patients with suspected bladder cancer in them. The platform enables surgeons to perform two-handed surgery from inside the endoscope and provides greater control in deep or narrow anatomy.

Virtuoso will submit an IDE to the FDA to initiate clinical trials in the U.S., another milestone in the advancement of robot-assisted endoscopic surgery. These advancements note the pace of innovation in robotic medical technology, designed to bring advanced, minimally invasive procedures closer to patients and more effective.