FlexDex intuitive laparoscopic accompaniments to begin sale in the US

Introduction of FlexDex intuitive technology has revolutionized the way minimal invasive surgeries are performed by lending the ease of movements and intuitive control than traditional laparoscopic instruments.

Using the ‘virtual center,’ the platform precisely translates the movement of surgeon’s wrist, hand, and arm outside the patient’s body into the corresponding movements of the instrument tip inside the patient body. Unlike any other instrument, it allows the surgeons to move the wrist in the direction of intended movement thereby greatly simplifying the execution of the surgical procedure.

Until now, FlexDex only provided the technology to a few hospitals as part of clinical trials. Now, FlexDex has entered into exclusive distribution agreement with Olympus, a global technology leader in designing and delivering innovative solutions for medical and surgical procedures to distribute FlexDex’s Needle Driver instrument in the United States.

The agreement combines Olympus’ innovative 3D laparoscopic imaging technology and FlexDex’s wristed needle-driver to offer a low-cost, robust alternative for complicated high-cost robotic set-up.

Randy Clark, Group Vice President of the Surgical Division at Olympus said in a news release, “Combining Olympus’ expertise in minimally invasive surgery and 3D technology with FlexDex’s unique technology for handling surgical instruments -- without the complexity and cost of a computer-aided robotic system -- will be a game changer for physicians and patients. We are thrilled to add FlexDex to the Olympus portfolio, furthering our progress of improving patient satisfaction, decreasing costs and improving the quality of life for patients.”

“Hospitals are constantly under pressure to reduce cost and improve patient outcomes. Using a multi-million-dollar robotic system for procedures that have low margins, often associated with fixed reimbursement, can potentially further burden providers financially. FlexDex and Olympus are uniquely positioned to offer surgeons the precision and control they desire while maintaining the balance of cost, outcome and patient benefit,” added Dr. James Geiger, CEO at FlexDex.

Flashback: FlexDex, a revolutionary laparoscopic technology that moves like surgeon’s hand

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FlexDex, a revolutionary laparoscopic technology that moves like surgeon’s hand.

FlexDex.com 

FlexDex, a new minimally invasive surgical tool system developed by University of Michigan startup FlexDex Surgical has been in use for the first time in a series of operations. FlexDex has already begun shipping its product throughout the U.S. This new $500 surgical instrument is vying to take the place of a $2 million robot for certain minimally invasive procedures.

The FlexDex is very intuitive and ergonomic to use, provides greater precision and functionality. The new technology gives surgeons higher degree of dexterity and intuitive control than traditional laparoscopic instruments.

FlexDex is an all-mechanical platform that mounts to the surgeon's arms and precisely translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist, and arm movements that are performed outside the body into corresponding precise movements inside the patient’s body. The FlexDex concept is the result of two major innovations that has revolutionized the physical configuration of hand-held, mechanical tools.

1. A mechanism around the surgeon’s wrist that geometrically projects a ‘virtual center’ of rotation at the same point as the surgeon's wrist.
2. This ‘virtual center’ mechanism is placed between the tool handle and a tool frame, which is now attached to the surgeon’s forearm via an arm-brace.

Inventor of FlexDex

The movements of the surgeon’s hands are directly transmitted to the tool shaft and end-effector. The surgeon’s wrist is allowed to rotate freely and naturally while the working tip inside the body flexes in the same direction as the handle and it can be rotated 360 degree with the help of the handle.

There are no buttons or lever to press but only a trigger that always rests in the palm that is used to activate the instrument at the tip.

Geiger demonstrated: "If I move my hand up, the device tip goes up. Wherever I move my hand, the tip of this instrument follows." No other instrument currently on the market operates like this.

To stitch internally, for example, surgeons can opt for old-fashioned straight-stick instruments that make complex tasks like suturing and knot-tying ergonomically challenging and extremely difficult to learn, Geiger said. Or they can use the high-tech daVinci Surgical System, a robot-assisted approach that's not available at all hospitals due to its cost. It takes considerable training to learn how to use a robot-assisted system.

 This startup is the brainchild of Shorya Awtar, a University of Michigan (U-M) engineering professor who co-founded FlexDex with his U-M colleague and surgery professor, James Geiger, and entrepreneur Greg Bowles.

"FlexDex provides the functionality of robots at the cost of traditional hand-held laparoscopic instruments. We've disrupted the paradigm where surgeons and hospitals had to choose between high cost/high function and low cost/low function," said Awtar "It's kind of like the transition from mainframe computers to smartphones. You hardly need a manual to use it. It's just intuitive." 

To contact FlexDex surgical call 810-775-3352   Mail:info@flexdexsurgical.com

                                              FlexDex | A Revolutionary Surgical Tool

                                              FlexDex | A Revolutionary Surgical Tool