Ep14 - Putting a robot in every surgeon’s hands, with Tom Wenchell, CEO RevMedica, and Robert Satti, CTO, RevMedica

MedTech Speed to Data

Following the data leads to a breakthrough idea in laparoscopic surgery.

Sometimes a technology starts off in one direction, but the data leads developers somewhere else entirely. This is the case for RevMedica, an early-phase medical device company, and manufacturer.

The first product in development at RevMedica is a cybernetic laparoscopic surgical stapler. The development of this device may transform the $4.5B surgical market by matching a reusable power module with a disposable sterile body. But it didn’t exactly start that way.

Recently, Tom Wenchell CEO, and Robert Satti CTO, of RevMedica talked with Andy Rogers of KeyTech about how a venture to create a full robotic surgery platform turned into an even better idea, by following the data path.

Need to know:

· Sometimes data can lead you in a new direction. Follow it.

· Start-ups must learn to do more, with fewer prototypes

· Data mapping puts performance on view for users and investors

· There’s a balancing act between development and marketing

The nitty-gritty

Surgical stapling is a workhorse technology. Staplers are used every day to dissect and/or ligate soft tissue in abdominal and thoracic cavity surgery.

Surgical staplers are nothing new. But the mechanical devices – and even the powered devices – have well-known drawbacks. They don’t fit every hand, can be tiring to use, create waste, and rely on the surgeon to feel his or her way around inside the soft tissue.

RevMedica’s technology is designed to effectively bridge the gap between the instrument and the surgeon’s hand. It’s a hybrid device, not a full robotic system. It’s designed to give surgeons a tool to make better decisions in the OR and create better patient outcomes.

Different types of data have shaped each step of the development:

Market data drove initial development. As RevMedica Interviewed surgeons, their original concept for a full robotic stapling device fell by the wayside, and the hybrid model began to emerge.

Competitive data helped refine and develop the hybrid concept. They looked at entire systems to find inefficiencies in mechanical and powered devices. It became apparent that a hybrid architecture enabled better articulation, smart firing, and a significant competitive advantage: the durable component can remain sterile for multiple procedures. And durable components reduce the waste of “one-and-done” mechanical staplers. This way, RevMedica can provide more value, at a lower cost, without all the bells and whistles or full-on robotics.

Ergonomic data from workflows and job functions surrounding the device as well as the way the device works with tissue provided valuable insight. Different aspects of workflow in OR were scored and ranked, then aggregated in spreadsheets and graphs. By making the data visual, RevMedica developers created a useful tool to define user needs, evaluate performance, and demonstrate the viability and value of the technology for investors.

Give the episode a listen!

Learn more about RevMedica: https://www.revmedica.com/