Monday, January 19, 2009

SurgiQuest in robotic surgical system deal

By Marc Songini

Orange, Conn.-based medical device startup SurgiQuest Inc. is working with California-based Intuitive Surgical Inc. to create disposable robot-based surgical systems.

SurgiQuest this past week announced the deal with Intuitive (Nasdaq: ISRG), which involves SurgiQuest developing a disposable surgery access system using its patented AirSeal technology. The AirSeal system allows multiple instruments of any shape or size to pass through a single port simultaneously. AirSeal offers not only a stable pneumoperitoneum, it allows surgeons to have a platform that eases unencumbered access and visualization in the abdominal cavity, SurgiQuest officials said in a statement. It also reduces variations of intra-abdominal pressure by eliminating seals and gaskets. SurgiQuest enables single incision surgery and will support the application of a variety of instrument platforms.

Intuitive Surgical intends to use AirSeal with its laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, surgical robot. This will give SurgiQuest a way to expand on its conventional laparoscopic surgery business and give it an entrance into the growing field of robotic surgery.

Founded in May 2006, SurgiQuest is a private venture-backed company. In July, a SurgiQuest filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission indicated it had raised $4.8 million in a Series B venture capital round to develop devices designed for urological and gastrointestinal surgeries. That round came after the firm’s announcement that its AirSeal system had been used in a surgery to remove a gallbladder, and in a separate procedure to remove an ovary.