BRIGHTON, Mich., Sept. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FlexDex Inc. is pleased to announce the first surgical procedure performed utilizing the FlexDex® Needle Driver took place on July 31, 2018 in Australia. Prof. Peter Cosman of University of Wollongong, an experienced upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreaticobiliary surgeon, performed one gastric sleeve and two single-anastomosis gastric bypasses, each with a hiatal hernia repair, using the FlexDex Needle Driver at Hurstville Private Hospital in Sydney, Australia.
“The FlexDex Needle Driver enabled me to be very precise in intracorporeal suturing. Using FlexDex made both the hernia repair and the anastomosis simpler. It felt safer and quicker than standard laparoscopic suturing with less tension on the tissue. It is the future. With systematic training and 3D technology from Olympus, procedures previously considered very challenging can be conducted without undue stress. The learning curve is manageable. We are only at the beginning of what surgeon powered robotics will soon allow us to achieve thanks to the intuitive articulation of the FlexDex technology,” said Prof. Cosman.
“It’s extremely exciting to see the FlexDex technology achieving another step towards global use bringing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients in any operating room, anytime, anywhere,” said Dr. James Geiger, M.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of FlexDex Inc. “With our partner APNE Surgical the launch of the FlexDex platform in Australia offers surgeons the precision and control they desire while maintaining the balance of cost, outcome and patient benefit. Congratulations to Prof. Cosman who is showing great leadership in redefining surgical robotics. The procedures that Peter performed illustrate the great opportunity for FlexDex in bariatrics, especially the single anastomosis gastric bypasses in Australia and elsewhere in the world.”
The first generation FlexDex Needle Driver is currently approved for sale in the United States, European Union, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and New Zealand. FlexDex is developing additional instruments that will enable surgeons around the world to perform advanced laparoscopic procedures without the need of a multi-million dollar robotic system. The company is set toward the path of democratizing minimally invasive surgery, making their surgeon-powered robotic platform available in any operating room at any time.
About FlexDex Inc.
FlexDex is an innovative medical device company that has developed a platform technology to provide surgeons with high performance and cost effective minimally invasive surgical instruments. The Company’s focus is to enable advanced minimally invasive procedures with greater precision and efficiency bringing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to patients throughout the world. FlexDex was developed at the University of Michigan by co-founders Shorya Awtar, Sc.D., James Geiger, MD and Greg Bowles. This platform technology enables highly intuitive, one-to-one mapping of the surgeon’s arm and hand motions to the articulating instrument inside the patient’s body. The patented “Virtual Center™” of the FlexDex platform is a simple mechanical design that, we believe, will greatly enhance the capabilities of all Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) instruments. The FlexDex Needle Driver, the first instrument of the FlexDex platform, has been granted the CE mark and is available for sale in the United States and internationally. For more information visit http://www.FlexDex.com
About APNE Surgical Pty Ltd:
APNE Surgical Pty. Ltd. (www.apne.com.au) is the exclusive distributor for FlexDex in Australia. It’s mission to bring scientifically relevant products to Australia efficiently. For more information about FlexDex in Australia, please email Julien Fouter at julien.fouter@apne.com.au or call Julien at + 6149909790.
Contact information
James Geiger, MD
info@flexdex.com
+1–810–522–9009 Office
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4ca068a6-d375-4a5e-a51d-a4a5e832759b