Amid growing interest in health in our present society, healthcare continues to evolve and advance due to technological innovation and advances in science, while constantly changing in form. In addition to reducing the physical burden on patients and raising their quality of life, we need to provide tools for early detection of diseases and an environment in which healthcare professionals can concentrate on treatment with peace of mind, as well as solutions for the social issue of equalization of medical care by correcting disparities among regions.
In the field of surgery, with the need to raise technology levels in operations and the need for advanced procedures, surgical support robots have been receiving attention. With the use of surgical support robots, the number of cases in which minimally invasive, precise procedures can be carried out has increased, but what kind of value do they have for healthcare professionals and society? Having adopted “Shaping the advancement of healthcare” as a mission in our corporate philosophy, Sysmex has been carrying out initiatives to expand our surgical support robot business both in Japan and globally, as well as those in surgical intelligence and those that promote digital transformation (DX) through open innovation under industry-government-academia collaborations. The purpose of this is to enhance the value we can offer to society and in healthcare, as well as to patients and healthcare professionals.
Our wish is to deliver excellent, safe medical care that is concern-free for healthcare professionals, patients, and their families.
Focusing on an employee forging steadily ahead with high aspirations and great passion, we present his thoughts on the challenges to our medical robotics business, as well as examples of initiatives undertaken with healthcare professionals.
Medicaroid is a company engaged in the development of surgical support robots. It was established in 2013 through a joint investment by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Sysmex. Kawasaki has focused on industrial robot technologies since succeeding in Japan’s first domestic production of industrial robots over 50 years ago. Sysmex is a provider of instruments and reagents required for in vitro testing to hospitals all over the world, and has extensive networks in the healthcare area. Following marketing and product development efforts, manufacturing and marketing approval was obtained for Japan-made surgical support robot in August 2020, for domestic use in urology. In September of that year, insurance coverage was obtained and in October 2022, expanded application to gastroenterological surgery and gynecology was approved.
As the sole distributor of Medicaroid products, Sysmex aims to promote patient-friendly, minimally invasive surgery, and will work on solving the problems of individual facilities through support for the installation and operation of surgical support robots in clinical settings.
【Note】
1 | Market size based on customer purchase prices. Source: TechSci Research, Medicaroid for 2030 forecast. | |
2 | Patient Journey: The process beginning with the patient noticing a disease or symptoms - spanning testing, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of recurrence and exacerbation, and extending to the end of life. | |
* | The purpose of this story is to communicate our business activities to our stakeholders. It may or may not include information about Sysmex's products or their research and development, but this is not intended for promotion, advertising or medical advice. The information contained in this press release is current as of the date of the announcement but may be subject to change without prior notice. |