From advanced imaging to robotics, Japan is a small nation that punches above its weight in medtech innovation.
Now, Medicaroid has delivered another leap forward for the country in this regard after securing CE Mark approval for its hinotori Surgical Robot System in Europe. The CE Mark certifies that hinotori meets the EU’s strict health and safety standards, giving European surgeons the green light to start using it in operating rooms.
These surgeons will operate hinotori to perform complex procedures with enhanced control and stability. The system’s arms mimic human movements, creating an open sterile workspace and supporting precision in tight spaces.
Medicaroid, headquartered in Kobe, Japan, develops this technology as a joint venture between industrial robotics giant Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (OTCMKTS: KWHIY) (FRA: KHE) and Sysmex Corp (OTCMKTS: SSMXF) (FRA: OYX), a leader in diagnostic instruments. The company first gained Japanese approval for hinotori in 2020, with approvals later attained in Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Globally, surgeons have completed around 15,000 procedures with the system. Aside from hinotori, Medicaroid also offers the SOT-100 Vercia robotic operating table in Japan. This table lets surgeons adjust and position patients easily in many different ways, making it especially useful in modern operating rooms.
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European momentum accelerates
This CE Mark approval builds directly on the grand opening of Medicaroid’s European innovation cluster last year in France.
The cluster, established at the world-renowned Institute for Research into Cancer of the Digestive System (IRCAD) surgical training institute in Strasbourg, serves as a dedicated hub for surgeon education, clinical research and tech demonstration. These developments strengthen Medicaroid’s regional presence and give European medical teams access to the hinotori system.
They complement the company’s earlier step of setting up its European headquarters (Medicaroid Europe GmbH) in Germany in 2020. Together, these feats should help enable faster adoption of the robot across urology, general surgery, gynaecology and thoracic surgery in the EU and EMEA region.
hinotori competes with major names
It enters a market dominated by Intuitive Surgical Inc‘s (NASDAQ: ISRG) (ETR: IUI1) da Vinci system while facing challengers such as CMR Surgical’s Versius Plus, Medtronic PLC‘s (NYSE: MDT) (FRA: 2M6) Hugo RAS and Asensus Surgical’s Senhance system.
Studies show that hinotori is comparable to da Vinci for certain procedures with equivalent metrics in many cases. Its compact design and smooth arm motion appeal to surgeons seeking efficiency in varied operating room setups.
As European hospitals seek reliable and efficient robotic surgery options, the arrival of hinotori adds another established player to the mix. With proven use in Asia-Pacific and now regulatory clearance in Europe, Medicaroid is steadily expanding its international presence.
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