Intuitive Grabs FDA Nod and Makes a Play to Expand Its Presence

Things continue to look up for Intuitive Surgical, a pioneer in the surgical robotics space. The Sunnyvale, CA-based company has received an FDA nod for its SureForm 60mm wristed staple and has purchased property for $1.35 million to expand its presence in the Triangle Business Center in Durham, NC, according to a report from the Triangle Business Journal.

Prior to the most recent land purchase, the company had a presence in Durham, at the North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus. TransEnterix, another mover and shaker in the surgical robotics market, is nearby.

In addition to the move the company is also touting the importance of its recent FDA clearance.

“Intuitive continues our minimally invasive innovation with our 60mm stapler, rooted in extensive research and development and an understanding of surgeons’ needs,” Sal Brogna, Intuitive executive vice president and COO, said in a release.

Intuitive Surgical’s SureForm can be controlled through the firm’s da Vinci surgeon console, creating an immediate connection between clinical decision-making and instrument action. Combining da Vinci’s tremor filtration with SureForm 60’s tip stability and 120 degrees of articulation in all directions may help provide surgeons with precise stapler manipulation and placement.

The company said the SureForm 60 has general, thoracic, gynecologic, urologic, and pediatric indications. It expands and evolves Intuitive’s da Vinci stapling portfolio, which includes 30 and 45mm stapler instruments.

Surgical Robotics Market

There’s no debating about Intuitive’s grasp in the market share. The firm is at the top of the surgical robotics market. There are other companies actively vying get a competing product on the market against the da Vinci.

Who could forget in 2015 when Google’s Verily Life Science revealed it was teaming up with Johnson & Johnson’s Ethicon to form Verb Surgical. The joint venture is set to develop an artificial intelligence-focused surgical robotics platform.

TransEnterix operates in a different segment of the market, but managed to have one of the most significant moments in surgical robotics in recent history. The company received FDA clearance for its Senhance system in 2017- the first new market entrant in the field of abdominal surgery since Intuitive’s da Vinci received an FDA nod in 2000. TransEnterix acquired the Senhance, which was originally called the ALF-X System in 2015.

 Medtech giant, Medtronic actually took a step back in its plan to get its technology on the market. The Dublin-based company announced during its investor’s day that it was delaying commercialization efforts until 2019.