Surgical Science Launches RobotiX Express

Surgical Science has announced the launch of RobotiX Express, a robotic surgery training platform redefining accessibility, portability and quality in medical simulation. The aim: to develop proficient surgeons sooner, without tying up valuable operating room (OR) time.

Addressing the Access Gap in Robotic Surgery Training
Robotic surgery is rapidly growing as a key technology in the OR. Offering greater precision and faster recovery times, use of this technology is predicted to double over the next 3-5 years1. But will surgeons be ready?

Surgical Science has developed RobotiX Express to solve one of the challenges in robotic surgery training: access. Current training is often tied to the OR, creating barriers for early exposure and continuous practice. Traditional robotic surgery simulators also require significant infrastructure, space and investment, limiting availability to institutions.

Designed for anywhere, anytime training, RobotiX Express delivers the professional-grade experience of robotic surgery simulation in a compact, portable format—fitting into a custom-made suitcase. This innovation eliminates the need for dedicated facilities, enabling hospitals, medical schools, and training programs to bring high-quality simulation directly to their learners.

RobotiX Express changes the equation:

  • Lowering Barriers to Training: The small, space-independent RobotiX Express allows for on-demand surgical training wherever surgeons are. The system sets up and stows away in minutes, making it ideal for training sessions outside of the OR.
  • Offering Budget-Friendly Simulation: RobotiX Express is a cost-effective training alternative that fits tighter training budgets.
  • Increasing Surgical Capacity: OR’s can remain fully dedicated to patient care, while surgeons build core robotic surgery skills in a break room, office or training lab.

As more surgeons gain skills sooner, programs will see a faster return on training investments and limited impact on OR time.

“RobotiX Express is about democratizing robotic surgery training,” said Tom Englund, CEO of Surgical Science. “As surgical robotics become the standard of care, training can no longer be a barrier. We’ve created a simulator that combines portability, affordability, and uncompromised quality—making professional training accessible to every program, everywhere.”

A Plug and Play Training Device
The simulator integrates customized controllers, foot pedals, and an ergonomic workspace, supported by an integrated 3D stereoscopic display for an immersive, authentic training experience. Users benefit from realistic kinematics and hand-movement precision, replicating the depth and clarity of operating room conditions.

Additionally, RobotiX Express offers optional MentorLearn Cloud access, allowing institutions to benefit from centralized training data, performance tracking, and global scalability—no matter where the simulator is located.

Accelerating Robotics Education and Adoption
Tom concluded: “the future of surgery is robotic. RobotiX Express offers the most accessible, portable and affordable training solution yet – bringing simulation to surgeons, rather than the other way round. We’re excited to accelerate skills development through hands-on, portable simulation”.

Availability
RobotiX Express is now available worldwide. To learn more or to schedule a demonstration, visit www.surgicalscience.com.

References
1. https://idataresearch.com/hospital-adoption-of-surgical-robotics-in-2025/

Source: Surgical Science

Surgical Science Announces Acquisition of Intelligent Ultrasound

Surgical Science has announced that Intelligent Ultrasound is now officially part of Surgical Science. This strategic acquisition brings together two industry leaders with a shared mission – to transform the future of healthcare by making high-quality medical simulation accessible to all.

Ultrasound is one of the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective imaging tools available – yet it remains significantly underutilized worldwide. Despite its proven benefits, a large proportion of the world’s estimated 50 million healthcare professionals lack access to ultrasound equipment, and even fewer have the training to use it effectively. This gap in access and education represents a critical challenge – not just for training, but for improving patient care on a global scale

“As one unified company, we are bridging this gap – making ultrasound simulation accessible to all clinicians, across all specialties, around the globe. Through cutting-edge simulation and scalable training solutions, we are breaking down the barriers to ultrasound education – empowering the next generation of healthcare providers.”

– Tom Englund, CEO, Surgical Science

Stronger Together

By combining Intelligent Ultrasound’s world-class ultrasound simulation with Surgical Science’s global reach and comprehensive medical simulation platforms, we now offer the broadest and most advanced product portfolio in the industry.

From the classroom to the clinic, from surgeons to sonographers, we are redefining how medical professionals are trained – with scalable, cutting-edge solutions that deliver real impact.

“With Intelligent Ultrasound and Surgical Science combined, we have an unmatched depth and technology, providing our customers with a wider range of solutions with increased value. We are looking forward to developing our ultrasound offering and are excited about the future of ultrasound simulation.”

– Kathryn Jenner, Senior Director Product Management, Surgical Science

More Innovation. More Impact.

This is more than an acquisition. It’s a leap forward for the simulation industry. Our focus is on increasing innovation, expanding access, and improving outcomes – so that every healthcare provider, everywhere, has the tools to train safely and effectively.

“Surgical Science has a very important role to play in providing tools that drive awareness around how simulation can support learning objectives, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes and saving patient lives.”

– Tom Englund, CEO, Surgical Science

Source: Surgical Science

Surgical Science Acquires Intelligent Ultrasound Group PLC

Surgical Science Sweden AB has completed the purchase of Intelligent Ultrasound Group PLC (“Intelligent Ultrasound”).

Intelligent Ultrasound has established a strong reputation for delivering high-quality training solutions that enhance the skills of healthcare professionals. This aligns seamlessly with Surgical Science’s vibrant and important mission to improve patient safety and healthcare outcomes.

This acquisition represents a pivotal step in Surgical Science’s strategy to expand our presence in ultrasound simulation and to strengthen our footprint in the UK. Intelligent Ultrasound brings with it a wealth of expertise, including volumetric ultrasound technology that complements Surgical Science’s existing simulated ultrasound solutions. We believe that by combining these technologies, we can deliver products with even greater functionality, creating value for our customers and driving deeper market penetration.

“This combination is a significant step forward in our growth journey,” says Tom Englund, CEO of Surgical Science, “and will allow us to meet the growing demand for advanced training solutions across the healthcare sector. This partnership will enhance our ability to serve healthcare professionals worldwide and further our mission of improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes.”

The acquisition will also establish a new R&D site and commercial organization, further enhancing Surgical Science’s innovation capabilities and market reach. As a planned result of the acquisition, Surgical Science will open a direct sales office in the UK. With direct operations both in the UK and the U.S., we add a valuable global dimension to our business. In the UK, we plan to build on Intelligent Ultrasound’s existing sales presence to introduce Surgical Science’s full product range and strengthen our competitive position. In the U.S., we will evaluate opportunities to integrate Intelligent Ultrasound’s Atlanta-based office into Surgical Science’s broader operations, including our facilities in Seattle and Cleveland.

Stuart Gall, CEO at Intelligent Ultrasound commented “This is fantastic news for our customers. Our combined product range offers clinicians a stunning range of ultrasound training simulators that lead the world in real-time hi-fidelity virtual reality simulation for medical professionals in all specialties. Surgical Science has the most comprehensive and well-regarded post-sales support network in medical education, and we have exciting and innovative developments in the pipeline that will continue to expand our product range in the important and growing ultrasound market. We look forward to the next stage of our journey together and will continue to focus on providing the best learning experience possible for trainees, qualified clinicians and educators alike.”

Source: Surgical Science

Surgical Science Appoints Tom Englund as CEO

Surgical Science has announced that Tom Englund will take over as the new CEO of Surgical Science on October 1, 2024. Tom currently works as COO and Deputy CEO at Instabee. He will succeed the current CEO Gisli Hennermark, who after October 1 will remain in an advisory role until the end of March 2025. Gisli will also continue as a member of the Board of Directors of Surgical Science.

On March 12, 2024, it was announced that Gisli Hennermark, CEO of Surgical Science Sweden AB (publ) since nine years, had informed the Board of Directors that he intended to leave his position. Furthermore, it was announced that Gisli would remain as CEO until the Board of Directors had appointed a new CEO and that he would act as an advisor to the new CEO until March 2025. At the Annual General Meeting on May 16, 2024, Gisli was elected as a member of the Board of Directors of Surgical Science.

The process of finding Gisli’s successor has been ongoing since March and has been led by the Chairman of the Board Roland Bengtsson.

Tom Englund holds a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Linköping University. Previous experiences include Accenture and Roland Berger, various roles within Atlas Copco where Tom spent seven years based in Stockholm and Shanghai, and Tobii where he worked for twelve years. At Tobii, a leading company in eye tracking, revenues during Tom’s tenure grew from around SEK 200 million to SEK 1.4 billion. Tom was CEO of the Tobii Pro business unit and later also Deputy CEO of the Tobii Group. Since 2021, Tom has worked for Instabox, which through a merger with Budbee in 2022 became Instabee, a logistics company in deliveries to parcel lockers and homes with around 1,100 employees and a turnover of approximately SEK 2 billion. Tom is today the COO and Deputy CEO at Instabee.

From his roles, Tom has experience in leading fast-growing high-tech organizations with a focus on profitable growth, developing business models, acquiring and integrating businesses, and scaling and merging organizations in a complex structure and international environment.

Tom will start his employment in Surgical Science on August 19 and will assume the position of CEO on October 1, 2024. Tom has no board assignments except for internal assignments within the Instabee Group.

“In Tom, we have found the next leader for Surgical Science’s continued profitable growth. We see great opportunities to scale up the company in the coming years. The digitalization of healthcare is only in its beginnings and Surgical Science’s contribution to patient safety through simulation has great growth opportunities. The fact that Gisli will act as an advisor for a period of time enables an efficient transition and for Tom to quickly get to know the business. Tom’s leadership skills, organizational know-how, experience of acquisitions and ability to develop business models for an increasing share of software services are some of the qualities that have made the Board of Directors confident that Tom is the right person to lead Surgical Science forward,” says Roland Bengtsson, Chairman of the Board of Surgical Science.

“I am grateful for the Board’s confidence and feel a great enthusiasm to contribute to Surgical Science’s continued growth journey. The company is clearly a world leader in its field and has a strong and important purpose in developing capabilities in surgery and patient safety. I am impressed with the position and the results that have been created so far and I look forward to working together with all professional and committed employees to develop the company further”, says Tom Englund, incoming CEO of Surgical Science.

Source: Surgical Science

Marion Surgical Announces Development of ‘Minimally Invasive’ Robot Surgery Game 

Marion Surgical has announced the development of its Minimally Invasive robot surgery game where you must solve puzzles, burn, slice, dice and suture aliens and cyborg patients to survive! 
 
The game has realistic physics and tools that have been engineered by surgeons to not only improve their skills but for everyone to enjoy. 

Learn more about Minimally Invasive here.

https://vimeo.com/851291379

Marion Surgical and Carleton University Secure Funding to Co-develop Simulator for Ultrasound-Robot-Guided PCNL

Marion Surgical and Carleton University have secured $592,000 NSERC Alliance Funding to co-develop a simulator for ultrasound- Robot-Guided PCNL with the Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).

“This partnership will develop the first-of-its-kind ultrasound-guided PCNL training simulator, with improved haptic feedback and a new collaborative human-robot framework to improve kidney access. This project holds great promise both in terms of theoretical and practical contributions and will push the boundaries of VR integrated with robotics for medical training”. Says Carlos Rossa, PhD, P.Eng Associate Professor Systems and Computer Engineering Carleton University

This collaboration has two objectives: firstly, to expand Marion’s simulator to support ultrasound images, and secondly, to explore the feasibility of the integrating the Ultra Sound, visual servoing for tool tracking, and path planning for one the first-ever implementation of a human-robot collaborative USPCNL system.

“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of Marion Surgical’s PCNL simulator, integrating ultrasound capabilities,” says Ben Sainsbury, CEO of Marion Surgical. “This enhancement opens up our product to new markets such as China and parts of Europe, who are increasingly using UL for kidney access because of concerns with radiation exposure associated with fluoroscopic imaging.”

Robot-guided Simulator

Marions platform uses real patient data with proprietary haptics that enables surgeons to learn, collaborate, practice and share procedures in a realistic, safe, cloud hosted environment. In addition to its flagship PCNL haptic simulator Marion recently has developed a new simulator for learning how to operate a surgical robotic (to be released in 2023).

The total NSERC Alliance project amount is $592,000 for a 4-year collaboration between Marion Surgical and Carleton University in collaboration with the Ottawa Hospital (TOH) and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC)  to develop the first-of-its-kind cyber-physical training simulator for ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Source: Marion Surgical

Marion Surgical Provides Update on TREMIRS Project

Marion Surgical has completed the Alpha prototype of the “Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Systems (TREMIRS)” simulator. The current Alpha build has foundational surgical tool handling and suturing exercises, as well as simulated step by step radical nephrectomy and pyeloplasty procedures.

The prototype is now being tested by an expert panel in Spain led by the Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre, as well as with an expert team of key opinion leaders surgeons assembled by Marion Surgical including: Dr Timothy Averch from Prisma Health, Edward Matsumoto from St Joseph  Hospital and Dr Jason Lee from UHN, and our own Dr Rajiv Singal Chief Surgeon from the Michael Garron Hospital who have collectively performed over a thousand robotic urology procedures and are experts and educators in the field. We are also working with Dr Dr. Mohammed Shahait from UAE who has performed radical nephrectomy procedures using the new CMR robotic platform. Getting Subject Matter Expert feedback is a critical part of our design and building process and we are looking forward to implementing their input into our Beta.

The team will be showcasing a beta build of the prototype at booth number #1829 at the American Urology Conference (AUA) in Chicago on April 28-May1st.

The “Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Systems (TREMIRS)” project aims to meet the needs of the Spanish Health System in minimally invasive surgery by developing innovative solutions in surgical robotics that improve the systems already on the market for their application in laparoscopic surgery and microsurgery.

TREMIRS focuses on improving the limitations of currently available surgical robotic systems for both laparoscopic and microsurgery, to offer a better service to the patient, better ergonomics for the surgeon and greater performance for the surgical team with the consequent improvement in the quality of the care provided.

Marion is building the metaverse for surgical procedures. Their platform uses real patient data with proprietary haptics that enables surgeons to learn, collaborate, practice and share procedures in a realistic, safe, cloud hosted environment. This new surgical robot simulator has been built as a platform with the 1st module for urologists. The company plans to expand its portfolio to include gynecology, gastroenterology and colorectal and other minimally invasive robotic procedures.

The “Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery Systems (TREMIRS)” project, REFERENCE: CPI-2019-33-1-TRE-14, in the framework of the Line for the Promotion of Innovation from the Demand for the Public Purchase of Innovation (FID-CPI Line) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and a total budget of €7,345,300.00, has been co-funded (80%) by the European Regional Development Fund and co-funded (20%) by Consejería de Economía, Ciencia y Agenda Digital of the Extremadura Government.

Source: Marion Surgical

FundamentalVR Strengthens Executive Team

FundamentalVR expands its executive team with the addition of four MedTech female leaders. Bringing a wealth of experiences to their roles, Erin Kullgren, Michelle Halsne, Maayan Wenderow, and Dottie Barrett join the company as VPs of Growth, Sales, Marketing, and Strategic Data Commercialization respectively. The strategic investment hires follow an extensive period of growth for the company, fuelled by a $20 million Series B investment round announced in August 2022.

FundamentalVR created Fundamental Surgery, the world’s first HapticVR™ medical education platform – combining high-fidelity virtual reality (VR) with cutting-edge haptics. The platform allows users to experience the same, sights, sounds, and sensations they would in the real world. Deployed in over 30 countries, Fundamental Surgery has been instrumental in helping Life Science, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Device companies deploy medical innovations in disciplines from robotics, minimally invasive surgery, ophthalmology, and gene therapy among others.

While immersive medical technology is often male-dominated, FundamentalVR owes much of its success and development to female leaders, including its CTO Vicky Smalley. The addition of the four new executives now means 55% of FundamentalVR’s leadership is comprised of women. 

Erin Kullgren

Based in FundamentalVR’s US office locations, the four additional team members will help fuel the platform and the company’s continued expansion. Erin Kullgren, Vice President of Growth is responsible for working with individual clients to integrate the Fundamental Surgery simulation platform into their organizations. She is an experienced global training and education leader, who has deployed cross-functional collaborations to create and execute training programs across the Medical Device and Healthcare industries.

Prior to joining FundamentalVR, Erin was Director of Global Medical Education at Endologix, where she led the development and integration of the first Virtual Reality (VR) procedural training program for Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR) – for use in both internal and external training curricula. A pioneer of creative and innovative medical education programs, Erin brings both Life Science and medical institutional experience to her role at FundamentalVR, having held senior positions at Endologix, Abbott, and St Jude Medical.

Michelle Halsne

Michelle Halsne joins FundamentalVR as Vice President of Sales, where she is tasked with expanding the company’s growing client list. Michelle has extensive experience developing successful go-to-market plans in MedTech and Medical Device companies, with a proven track record of accelerating the adoption of paradigm-shifting technologies in the US market.  Prior to joining FundamentalVR, Michelle led sales efforts of innovative companies including 3D Systems and Proximie.

Maayan Wenderow

Leading marketing strategy and execution at FundamentalVR is Maayan Wenderow, who joins the company as Vice President of Marketing. Maayan is an accomplished marketeer with a proven track record in launching medical products.  Previously, she held senior positions at leading Medical Equipment Manufacturers such as Baxter International, where she served as Associate Director of Marketing, and Cheetah Medical, where she was Director of Marketing. 

Dottie Barrett

As VP of Strategic Data Commercialization for FundamentalVR, Dottie Barrett will be focused on enhancing the adoption and extending the value of FundamentalVR products through the use of data, AI, and platforms. An immersive and digital health innovation strategist, Dottie has more than 20 years of experience in the medical sector working within Life Science and Healthcare companies. She has held leadership roles with companies including Insulet, UnitedHealth Group, and Abbott Laboratories.

“We are excited to welcome four amazing women to the FundamentalVR team and look forward to their contribution as we continue to expand in North America and Asia. Throughout 2022, we have continued to invest in our platform to transform how surgical skills are acquired in a scalable, low-cost and multiuser environment. Erin, Michelle, Maayan, and Dottie will be integral in helping FundamentalVR reach and better serve new customers to further that vision.”

Richard Vincent, CEO and Co-Founder of FundamentalVR

The proven efficacy of the Fundamental Surgery platform was also affirmed in September through a clinical trial published in The Annals of Medicine and Surgery. Conducted by Drs. Gani, Pickering, Sabri, Ellis, and Pucher, the trial aimed to evaluate the educational impact of integrated haptic feedback in an immersive VR bone drilling simulation on real-world benchtop performance. The study at St George’s University Hospital, London found that HapticVR™ technology within Fundamental Surgery improves surgical training learning curves and outcomes by over 40% in a number of surgical tasks.

“2022 has been a stellar year for the company as it has seen us secure additional funding, expand our partnerships, and now add additional top talent to our thriving team. The pace of innovation within immersive technologies is having a noticeable impact on the way medical education is advancing.  It is helping bring new procedures and techniques to market and we are looking forward to what 2023 will bring.”

Richard Vincent, CEO and Co-Founder of FundamentalVR

Source: FundamentalVR

Teleflex Partners with FundamentalVR to Enhance Training through VR Simulation

Teleflex has today announced a new agreement with FundamentalVR, a world leader in virtual reality (VR) integration for medical simulation. The agreement will provide Teleflex with a VR training platform to accelerate the effective use of the company’s UroLift® 2 System, an innovative technology for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate. The VR training platform integrates tactile feedback and a digital representation of the UroLift® 2 System to provide urologists with a “hands-on” VR experience that can accelerate their learning.

By leveraging the capabilities of FundamentalVR’s Fundamental Surgery platform, Teleflex aims to increase access and standardization of clinical training of the UroLift® 2 System in the United States and around the world, including Japan, where the UroLift® 2 System was recently approved for use. The customized solution from FundamentalVR will enable urologists globally to practice the procedure remotely in a virtual environment.

Teleflex showcased the Fundamental Surgery platform at the company’s UroLift® System booth at the 2022 American Urological Association (AUA) meeting in New Orleans. The platform is officially launching and becoming available in August 2022.

“We are delighted to offer our customers this leading VR platform for surgical and procedural education which offers advanced, realistic graphics to help demonstrate the ease of use of the UroLift® 2 System in a variety of prostate anatomies,” said Kevin Hardage, President and General Manager of Teleflex Interventional Urology. “FundamentalVR’s Fundamental Surgery platform is versatile and scalable, making them an ideal supplier to meet our customers’ needs for training for the UroLift® 2 System around the world.”

Chris Scattergood, co-founder at FundamentalVR said, “We are delighted that Teleflex, a market leader in urology, has chosen FundamentalVR as their partner for their future vision. Integrating Extended Reality education solutions can have a positive impact on surgeons and patients.”

References:
1. Rukstalis, Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Dis 2018
2. Roehrborn, Can J Urol 2017
3. AUA BPH Guidelines 2003, 2021
4. McVary, J Sex Med 2016
5. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013
6. Management estimate based on product sales as of April 2022. Data on file Teleflex Interventional Urology.

Source: Teleflex