Global Surgical Robots Market Overview, 2024-29

Market Dynamic

Market Drivers Aging Population and Increasing Surgical Demand: The global aging population is a significant driver for the adoption of surgical robots. As the elderly population grows, there is an associated increase in the prevalence of age-related health conditions that may require surgical intervention. Surgical robots, with their precision and ability to perform minimally invasive procedures, become crucial in addressing the rising demand for surgeries in older demographics. The demographic shift towards an older population contributes to the sustained growth of the surgical robots market. Expanded Applications in New Surgical Specialties: The adoption of surgical robots is expanding into new surgical specialties beyond the traditional domains. Initially prevalent in urology and gynecology, robotic-assisted surgery is now making inroads into specialties such as thoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, and head and neck surgery. The versatility of surgical robots, coupled with ongoing technological advancements, allows for the adaptation of robotic systems to a broader range of surgical procedures. This diversification of applications is a key driver propelling the global surgical robots market. Market Challenges Regulatory Hurdles and Standardization: The regulatory landscape for surgical robots is evolving, and navigating regulatory approvals can pose a challenge for manufacturers and healthcare providers. Ensuring compliance with diverse international regulations while maintaining a balance between innovation and patient safety is a complex task. Standardization of procedures and protocols for the use of surgical robots across different regions is also an ongoing challenge, as variations in regulatory requirements may impact the adoption and integration of robotic systems. Patient and Surgeon Acceptance: Acceptance among both patients and surgeons is a critical challenge for the widespread adoption of surgical robots. Patients may harbor reservations about the use of robots in their surgeries, and there might be concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of these systems. Surgeons, too, may face resistance or hesitation in adopting new technologies, especially if they perceive a potential disruption to their established surgical practices. Addressing these acceptance challenges involves education, training, and fostering a collaborative approach between healthcare providers, manufacturers, and patients. Market Trends Integration of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): The integration of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies is emerging as a trend in the global surgical robots market. These technologies provide surgeons with immersive, three-dimensional views of the surgical site, enhancing visualization and spatial awareness. The combination of AR and VR with surgical robots can potentially streamline complex procedures and contribute to the overall improvement of surgical outcomes. Global Collaborations and Partnerships: Increasing collaborations and partnerships between robotic technology companies, healthcare institutions, and research organizations are shaping the landscape of the surgical robots market. These collaborations aim to leverage the strengths of each partner, combining technological expertise, clinical insights, and research capabilities. Such synergies contribute to the development of more advanced and tailored robotic solutions, fostering innovation and accelerating the adoption of surgical robots on a global scale. Covid-19 Impacts Hospitals around the world faced increased pressure to prioritize resources for COVID-19 patients, leading to the deferral of non-urgent procedures. As a result, the demand for surgical robots, often used in elective surgeries, experienced a temporary decline during the peak phases of the pandemic. The surgical robots market, like many other industries, faced disruptions in the supply chain. Lockdowns, travel restrictions, and manufacturing challenges led to delays in the production and delivery of robotic systems and associated components. This impacted the ability of healthcare providers to acquire new robotic technologies and slowed down the pace of installations and upgrades. Despite the challenges, the emphasis on minimizing patient exposure and reducing the length of hospital stays during the pandemic favored the adoption of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Surgical robots, known for their role in enabling minimally invasive procedures, became more valuable in this context. The shift towards MIS and the benefits associated with it contributed to the resilience of the surgical robots market. The pandemic highlighted the importance of telemedicine and remote healthcare solutions. Some surgical robots are equipped with telepresence capabilities, allowing surgeons to control the robotic system from a remote location. This capability gained prominence during the pandemic, enabling experienced surgeons to guide and perform procedures even when physically separated from the patient, thereby reducing the risk of virus transmission. The need for reducing the risk of infection and ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals led to an accelerated interest in automation within healthcare settings. Surgical robots, with their precision and the ability to minimize direct contact during procedures, became a focal point in discussions around automated healthcare solutions.

Key Development

• On June 2023, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad, launched the Da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System, a ground-breaking advancement in surgical procedures. This state-of-the-art technology promises enhanced precision and superior patient care, revolutionizing surgical healthcare and improving clinical outcomes. The system is designed for Oncology, Urology, Colorectal, General Surgery, Gynaecology & Gastro-Intestinal surgeries, offering exceptional accuracy, efficiency & safety. Robotic surgery offers minimally invasive incisions, reduced scarring, and shorter recovery times compared to traditional methods. It also lowers complications like infections and scarring. • On May 2023, Moon Surgical, a robotics startup, closed a $55.5 million funding round, raising its total funding to $90 million. The round was steered by Sofinnova Partners and NVentures, Nvidia's venture capital arm. Fred Moll, founder of Intuitive Surgical and Auris Health, was also an investor in the round. Moon focuses on developing and commercializing its Maestro system, a two-arm robotic system that enhances surgeons' capabilities by providing an extra set of arms and hands. The Maestro system has received FDA & European regulatory clearance and is set to be used in the U.S. & European Union laparoscopic procedures. • On May 2023, Virtuoso Surgical introduced a new robotic surgery system to expand the scope of endoscopic surgery. The system consists of two 1mm diameter manipulators controlled by robots operating from a rigid endoscope. The endoscope is smaller than a 5-pence coin and can be equipped with various manipulators for various procedures. The system has shown feasibility in animal and tissue models and offers dexterity in processes involving tools delivered through rigid endoscopes. The CEO explains that Virtuoso allows surgeons to lift tissue, apply tension, and maintain traction in tight spaces, making it a ground-breaking advancement in endoscopic surgery. • On May 2023, Smith+Nephew introduced two new products for its robotics and digital surgery portfolio, the data visualisation platform RI.Insights and personalised planning (powered by AI). By transforming data into contextual intelligence, these solutions help surgeons understand how preoperative strategies and intraoperative choices affect postoperative results. The Cori robotic surgery system for knee replacement is enhanced by Personalised Planning and RI.Insights, which let surgeons place the initial implant based on AI-guided reference values, patient preferences, and deformities. Surgeons will be able to compare the results of individual cases and benchmark data against a global anonymized database using RI.Insights as well.