2 Dec 2008
Prosurgics’ FreeHand is a robotic camera holder for use in keyhole surgery. Developed by Sagentia, based on Prosurgics’ patented technology, it has won the ERBI Medtech 2008 award for Innovation sponsored by Health Technologies KTN (Knowledge Transfer Network).
The robotic arm replaces the need for a human assistant to hold the endoscope enabling surgeons to view rock-steady images inside the patient’s body and control camera movement with just a tilt of their head.
The award was presented to Colin Robertson of Prosurgics and Keith Marshall of Sagentia by Barnaby Perks of ERBI Medtech and Sue Dunkerton, Director of Health Technologies KTN.
Robertson explains that FreeHand has been very well received by surgeons worldwide, because it addresses real needs in keyhole surgery: “There is currently nothing on the market that matches FreeHand in terms of simplicity and affordability.”
Judge Sue Dunkerton was impressed with FreeHand because minimally-invasive surgery is such a priority for the NHS at the moment: “With 20,000 laparoscopic operating rooms in the US and EU alone and 2.5 million procedures undertaken annually, market potential is estimated to be as much as £200 million for the unit and £250 million per annum in consumables. Prosurgics has a strong business model.”
Last updated: 14 Jul 2009, 11:17 AM
