Versius (robot surgeon)

2025: Versius Plus Robot Release for Gallbladder Removal

In mid-December 2025, CMR Surgical announced the next-generation robotic surgical platform Versius Plus. This system can also be used to perform cholecystectomy - removal of the gallbladder.

Cholecystectomy is one of the main treatments for gallstone disease, chronic cholecystitis (inflammation), polyps, and other gallbladder pathologies. The use of the Versius Plus platform provides less trauma, shortens the recovery period, reduces pain and the risk of complications.

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Фото: CMR Surgical

Versius Plus, according to CMR Surgical, has a compact modular design that allows easy movement between compartments and rooms. The platform is suitable for almost any operating system, which allows you to use it within an existing workflow. With optimized port placement, surgeons can choose the configuration that best suits the technique used and the specific patient.

The Versius Plus solution is also equipped with a built-in ICG (Indocyanine Green) -based vLimeLite fluorescent imaging system. This is a modern surgical technology using a special safe dye (indocyanine green) that is injected into the patient so that the surgeon can see in real time the blood flow, lymphatic system or affected tissues. The Versius Plus system is equipped with an open console to facilitate interaction between the surgeon and other medical specialists.

CMR Surgical also provides a dedicated Versius Connect physician application with a journal of operations. At the same time, the Versius Team dashboard monitors system use and efficiency, helping to optimize robotic surgery programs.^[1]

2019: Sales kick-off

In late October 2019, CMR Surgical began sales of the modular robotic platform for various Versius surgical procedures.

This system is intended for general surgical operations, thoracic, gynecological and colorectal procedures, as well as interventions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The solution has been successfully initiated at Galaxy Care Hospital in Pune (India) for various surgeries including transthoracic procedures, hysterectomy and myomectomy.

CMR Surgical robot surgeons start showing up in hospitals

Since the Versius system is modular, it can be easily and quickly moved between operating rooms, which expands the usability and profitability of the platform, the manufacturer claims. The robot surgeon is expected to shorten the duration of surgery while improving treatment outcomes. The Versius platform should become more affordable compared to competitors and is designed for midsize hospitals.

In addition to the new system, CMR Surgical has launched the first clinical registry to evaluate the effectiveness of robotic technologies, which will allow recording and tracking the results of all procedures involving Versius to ensure patient safety.

Parameters evaluated include duration of platform use, duration of patient hospitalization, patient readmission within 30 days, and repeated surgeries within 24 hours. Thus, CMR Surgical intends to ensure post-marketing supervision of the quality of its products within the framework of the IDEAL system ("Idea, development, research, assessment, long-term observation"), which calls on manufacturers to evaluate all stages of use of their products.^[2]

2018

Announcement of a new version

In early September 2018, a new version of the CMR Surgical Versius robotic system for minimally invasive surgery was released, and the manufacturing company believes this is a serious step to improve the efficiency and safety of operations.

Reduced injuries, improved treatment outcomes, and a speedy recovery time frame have been driving the development of surgical robotics for decades. Minimally invasive surgical interventions and tools for their implementation, which have been developed over the past forty years, represent a profitable alternative to open surgical operations: with minimally invasive interventions, the risk of complications, the duration of hospitalization and discomfort for the patient are reduced. Statistics show that about six million open surgeries are performed each year, which could be replaced with minimally invasive interventions. Experts hope Versius will provide the ultimate paradigm shift in surgery.

CMR Surgical Versius robot surgeon

Portability, mobility and availability - the device will go on sale in the UK as early as 2019 - favorably distinguish Versius from its counterparts. So, according to the developers, Versius is three times smaller than the well-known system for minimally invasive interventions da Vinci Xi. The modular design and attachment of the robotic arm to the mobile cart makes it easy to move the machine between operating rooms and even individual hospitals, which underlies the cost-effectiveness of the instrument.

The ergonomic design of the instrument aims to take on as many of the physician's mechanical functions as possible. Versius simulates movements in the surgeon's hand and wrist with high accuracy and wide range - the robotic arm has seven degrees of freedom, as does the human arm, thanks to additional articulations. By comparison, the best industrial manipulators have only six degrees of freedom. The developers note that the mobility of the modular robotic arm Versius allows it to be used in most laparoscopic operations on the abdomen and pelvic cavity.

Clinical trials have shown that thanks to Versius, doctors can spend eight hours at the operating table without straining. A CMR spokesperson said he hoped the use of Versius would benefit both patients and surgeons themselves, who would get a convenient and effective tool.^[3]

Market entry

In July 2018, CMR Surgical announced, according to the company, the smallest surgical robot in the world. The model, called Versius, is three robotic arms attached to a mobile device the size of a bar.

The surgeon controls the robot from the control panel, directing the "hands" during endoscopic and laparoscopic operations. Although minimally invasive operations are widely used in clinical practice, they require long training of specialists and are relatively difficult to perform. Using Versius allows you to ease the burden on the surgeon, who now does not need to directly control endoscopic instruments in an uncomfortable position.

In addition, training with Versius takes much less time than teaching manual manipulation - for example, it takes a surgeon 60-80 hours of practice to consolidate the skill of tying a surgical node manually with a minimally invasive cavity operation, while with Versius he can master the same procedure in 30 minutes.

Robot surgeon Versius

Thanks to the robot, more specialists will be able to perform minimally invasive operations, which will improve clinical outcomes - it is known that such procedures have a number of advantages over open cavity operations. The probability of hernia development during minimally invasive operations decreases by 50%, the need for postoperative analgesics decreases, and the likelihood of infection of an operating wound decreases.

Versius is not the first or only surgical robot, but it is easy to use and mobile, which, according to the developers, will be its advantage. It is noted that by July 2018, the robot is ready for sale, and the latest formal procedures necessary to bring this medical equipment to the mass market are taking place.^[4]

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