Two University of Nebraska professors and their start-up company have received a $2 million investment to move their unique miniature robotic surgical tools one step closer to the marketplace.
University of Nebraska Medical Center surgeon Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., and University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineer Shane Farritor, Ph.D., founders of Virtual Incision Corp., announced that they have received funding support from PrairieGold Venture Partners and Bluestem Capital. Virtual Incision Corp. will maintain its corporate headquarters in Lincoln. The technology is exclusively licensed through UNMC.
“The funds allow the technology to move one step closer to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval and ultimate commercialization,” said Dr. Oleynikov, associate professor of surgery and director of the Center for Advanced Surgical Technology and Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery at UNMC.
The investment will be used to develop advanced prototypes for the first inexpensive in vivo, miniature robotic surgical tools and camera systems for single incision abdominal and pelvic procedures.
“We are very excited about moving our technology forward,” Dr. Farritor said. “We’re thankful for the support we’ve received from groups including the university, the Nebraska Engineering Research Fund, and the Nebraska Angels.”
Nebraska Angels is an independent consortium of investors.
The robots can be inserted through a single tiny incision in the navel to perform minimally invasive surgeries that significantly reduce pain and recovery times for patients. Each camera-carrying robot is remotely controlled by the surgeon and capable of performing surgeries such as gall bladder removal and colon resection.
"My vision is to develop tools that allow surgeons to operate with less-invasive techniques," Dr. Oleynikov said. "I don’t want my patients to suffer from pain and discomfort and have to stay in the hospital for lengthy periods of time as they do now from conventional open surgery."
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.