The COVID-19 pandemic has been a bump in the road for developers of digital surgical systems that include robotics, but the technology is still in demand. That was the message from industry leaders at the Advanced Medical Technology Association’s Virtual Medtech Conference.

Robotic-assisted surgery-focused Intuitive Surgical Inc. revealed its second-quarter results late July 21, with worldwide Da Vinci procedures falling about 19% vs. the same period of 2019. Driven by this decline, second quarter 2020 instruments and accessories (I&A) revenue fell by 20% to $461 million, vs. $579 million in the second quarter of 2019.

The U.S. FDA has given the green light to Xact Robotics Ltd. for its Xact Ace robotic system for computer tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous procedures. The company plans to roll out the system later this year with an initial focus on interventional radiologists.

HONG KONG – Seoul, South Korea-based 3D inspection device maker Koh Young Technology Inc. is looking to expand into the global market with its neurosurgical robotics system Kymero after securing its first client in its home country in June.

Mastor SAS secured €3 million (US$3.39 million) in seed investment from Sofinnova Partners' MD Start III Fund and €1.9 million in non-dilutive funding through the i-Nov Innovation Award from BPI France, the French national public investment bank.

PARIS – Robocath SAS, of Rouen, France, has secured a new $43 million funding round to boost roll-out of its R-One robotic system for treating vascular disease. This series C funding was led by Hong Kong-based Microport Scientific Corp.

Toronto-based Titan Medical Inc. has inked a development and license agreement with Medtronic plc, of Dublin, to advance the development of single-port robotic-assisted surgical tools. A separate agreement gives Medtronic licensing rights to certain Titan intellectual property. The arrangement aligns with Medtronic’s goal of building its robotic-assisted surgery business and gives Titan’s financials a needed shot in the arm.

Robotic-assisted surgical procedures have fallen off steeply as the ongoing global pandemic has unfolded, but the real impact on Intuitive Surgical Inc. will come as its hospital customers may have to limit orders for expensive equipment upgrades as they struggle to manage unprecedented financial burdens. The U.S. accounts for about 70% of its robotic surgery procedures, but by the last few weeks in March, that activity had been curtailed by roughly two-thirds.

PARIS – Quantum Surgical SAS, of Montpellier, France, has been awarded development aid amounting to $2.25 million in grants and repayable loans from Bpifrance bank, as part of the French Deeptech program.