Lincoln-based company makes medical history

Posted by: Laura Wilson
lwilson@klkntv.com

LINCOLN–A UNL professor is making history in the medical field this week

"To our knowledge, this is the first time a robot has ever operated inside a living human being, which I think is a big milestone both in medicine and in robotics,” Virtual Incision Co-Founder and UNL Professor Shane Farritor explained.

Yes, you read that right—a robot, functioning from inside a live human being.

It’s part of a revolutionary new procedure, in which a small robot is inserted inside a patient—usually through their belly button—and is then operated, externally, by a surgeon.

It was created specifically for general surgery abdominal procedures.

“Once you’re on the inside, you can grab and touch and perform surgery the way you want to.  I think you have more freedom from the inside,” said Farritor.

The company that invented the robot, Virtual Incision, is located on Nebraska Innovation Campus.

It’s based on technology created at UNL’s Engineering School, and UNO’s Medical Center.

This week, the mini–robot conducted the first known human surgery, which took place in Paraguay.

"We think this is a big game changer.  I think we have a different approach than a lot of other people in that we make these small robots that go in the inside.  And there’s a lot of advantages to that,” said Farritor.

Advantages like a quicker recovery time, and less post–op pain, according to the Farritor.

Virtual Incision is awaiting FDA approval for its’ robots, but has already received grants from the U.S. Army.

The Army wants to do surgery in crazy, remote locations.  Our robots are small and portable so they have an interest in our robots,” Farritor explained.

Multiple surgeries were done this week, in Paraguay, using the mini–robots.

They were all successful, according to Virtual Incision, and the patients are recovering well.