Medical Microinstruments Expands Reach of its Robotics Surgical System

MMI’s (Medical Microinstruments Inc.) is expanding its surgical robotics footprint with several regulatory approvals and a global distribution agreement in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
The company has reached an exclusive distribution agreement with Gunze Medical Limited, a Japanese medical device developer and manufacturer. The agreement will help MMI commercialize its Symani Surgical System across Japan (upon regulatory approval) and eventually enable hospitals there to expand their open surgical programs to include microsurgery and supermicrosurgery procedures.

“Our partnership with MMI will facilitate the Symani Surgical System’s expansion into Japan,” Gunze Medical President Shojiro Matsuda said. “We are deeply committed to expanding patient access to robotic-assisted microsurgery and believe Symani’s proven clinical success will complement our relationships with care provider organizations with expertise in plastic and reconstructive surgery.”
 
The Symani Surgical System’s recent regulatory approvals in Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Taiwan boost the product’s authorization total to 35 countries. The Symani System gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorization in April.

“The demand for innovative, less invasive, highly precise surgical options is increasing around the world, particularly in Asia, where microsurgery and reconstructive surgery both have long histories,” MMI CEO Mark Toland stated. “Our recent regulatory approvals in multiple countries, and growing relationships with distributors in key markets, have enabled us to accelerate our timeline for global expansion. Each new milestone represents another step toward expanding patient access to highly advanced microsurgical capabilities around the world.”

Asia-Pacific represents the fastest growing microsurgery market in the world, and Taiwan specifically is a hub of microsurgical innovation that attracts surgeons from around the globe. MMI has already signed a distributor agreement in the country to support its regulatory approval there and details are being finalized on the heels of the authorization.
 
MMI also expanded commercialization efforts in Europe by partnering with the Synektik Group, an integrator of medical solutions that covers six countries across Eastern Europe. The agreement bolsters Synektik’s ability to distribute robotic medical systems in the region.

“MMI’s mission to expand patient access to highly specialized microsurgical options perfectly aligns with our own as we help to further enable robotic capabilities across Poland and Eastern Europe,” Synektik Founder/CEO Cezary Kozanecki commented. “Symani has introduced a new level of capability and enabled surgeons to perform exceptionally precise procedures that include lymphedema repair, head and neck cancer-related reconstruction, and autologous breast reconstruction. Our health system partners have already expressed significant interest in expanding their open surgery capabilities to include procedures they haven’t been able to previously perform.”
 
The Symani Surgical System addresses the scale and complexities of microsurgery and supermicrosurgery, such as the anastomosis and suturing of small anatomical structures like blood and lymphatic vessels, during open surgical procedures. By allowing surgeons to replicate the natural movements of the human hand at the micro scale, it can help restore quality of life for more patients, accelerate the number of surgeons able to push the boundaries of complex procedures for delicate anatomy, and enable hospitals to expand their open surgical programs.
 
MMI aims to advance robotic technology that pushes the limits of soft tissue open surgery and opens new opportunities for surgeons. The company was founded in 2015 near Pisa, Italy, and its proprietary Symani Surgical System combines the world’s smallest wristed microinstruments with tremor-reducing and motion-scaling technologies to address significant unmet patient needs across the globe. This first-of-its-kind surgical robotic platform for open, soft tissue micro-level surgery can help address microvascular repair and lymphatic repair. In Europe and APAC, it also addresses peripheral nerve repair. MMI is backed by global investors including Fidelity Management & Research Company, Andera Partners, BioStar, Deerfield Management, Fountain Healthcare Partners, Panakès Partners, RA Capital, Sambatech, and Wellington Partners.