The 2018 Excellence in Surgical Products Awards will be presented in the November/December issue of Surgical Products. Leading up to the publication of that issue, nominees will be featured on the Surgical Products website.
Category: OR Equipment and Accessories
Product description and innovation synopsis:
Together, the ENDOEYE FLEX 3D and FlexDex solution provide intuitive wristed suturing and 3D visualization to offer a suitable alternative to the costs and constrictions associated with a robotic investment. Their clinical and economic benefits include:
- Restoring natural vision and depth perception that simply cannot be achieved with conventional 2D imaging systems, all on a familiar laparoscopic platform.
- Translating the surgeon’s precise hand movements to the instrument tip, while maintaining tactile feel.
- Enabling advanced minimal access surgeries in any OR, at any time.
(Image credit: Olympus)
What sets this product apart from others available in the industry?
Robotic surgery utilization has grown over the past 15 years. While studies have shown advantages over open surgery, upfront and long-term costs of robotic surgical systems have proven to be burdensome. Current robotic systems have high fixed costs (prices ranging from $1 to $2.5 million per unit), require costly maintenance and use of additional consumables. Not all facilities can justify the high costs associated with currently available systems, limiting access to robotic surgical options. The combination of the Olympus 3D Imaging system and FlexDex Needle Driver for suturing redefines the robotic space and provides a truly cost-effective robotic solution.
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
The ENDOEYE FLEX 3D improves speed, accuracy and precision of surgical tasks (dissection, grasping, and suturing) when compared to traditional 2D systems. The restoration of natural 3D vision and depth perception during laparoscopic procedures mimics what the human eye would see in open surgery, independent of a surgeon’s skill level. This, combined with FlexDex’s suturing technology that precisely translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist, and arm movements from outside the patient into corresponding movements of an end-effector inside the patient’s body, enhances the capabilities of minimal access surgery and provides a cost-effective robotic solution.
