Distalmotion raises $150M to commercialize surgical robot
By targeting ambulatory surgery centers, the company is gearing up to compete with Intuitive Surgical for an emerging opportunity.
Distalmotion has designed Dexter to integrate into existing surgical environments without the need for dedicated infrastructure. The robotic platform’s open architecture allows surgeons to use their preferred visualization systems and laparoscopic electrosurgical generators.
In a paper published in the Journal of Robotic Surgery in September, physicians contrasted the features of Dexter to existing platforms that require dedicated operating room space, institutional resources for surgeon training and substantial infrastructure. The physicians said those requirements are barriers to the use of robots in ASCs, limiting uptake at sites that could benefit from minimally invasive platforms.
Distalmotion now has $150 million to try to show that Dexter is a better fit for ASCs. CEO Greg Roche said in a statement that “ASCs represent a tremendous opportunity for Dexter” as Distalmotion enters the next phase of its U.S. commercialization plan.
