Revo-i, developed by Korean biotech firm Meere Company, is designed for use in operation rooms in endoscopic surgical procedures including cholecystectomy and prostatectomy. “We expect the successful development of the homegrown surgical robot will lead to lower medical expenses and shorter operative time and less blood loss for patients who need such procedures,” an MFDS official said. Revo-i is the second surgical robot cleared by any health regulator in the world for the use of general minimally invasive surgery, following the da Vinci Surgical System made by the US company Intuitive Surgical and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2000. So far, the majority of medical robots has been playing limited roles at hospitals such as cutting bones for hip and knee replacement procedures. Korea’s robotic medical device import increased 34 percent to 19.6 billion won last year from 14.6 billion won in 2015.

Source: The Nation Bangkok August 03, 2017 13:18 UTC