Revolutionary Robotics Device Boosts Microsurgery at USF and TGH!
Cutting-Edge Technology Meets Compassionate Care!
Dr. Nicholas Panetta is excited to announce a groundbreaking robotic microsurgery device that’s coming to USF, aimed at transforming cancer-related surgeries forever.
As the director of the USF Cancer Related Lymphedema Program and chair of the Plastic Surgery department at Morsani College of Medicine, Panetta is at the forefront of this innovation.
He describes the Symani Surgical System as the “smallest motion scaling robot ever invented for surgical applications” – a game changer for precision in surgery!
This cutting-edge technology is a collaboration between USF and Tampa General Hospital, courtesy of Medical Microinstruments, Inc. (MMI), a pioneering Italian surgical robotics company based in Jacksonville.
While the exact arrival date is still under wraps, Panetta anticipates that patients will begin reaping the benefits of this high-tech marvel by spring 2025.
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The remarkable capabilities of this robot allow surgeons to execute hand motions with unparalleled precision, tying sutures smaller than a millimeter!
This device not only enhances surgical accuracy but also opens new avenues for a microsurgery fellowship launching at USF in July 2025, providing invaluable training for future surgeons.
“It’s a unique opportunity for medical students or those aspiring to enter plastic or reconstructive surgery to explore applications of this technology that aren’t available at other institutions,” Panetta noted.
With the introduction of this revolutionary device, Florida will join the ranks of just five states utilizing this technology, making it a trailblazer in the Southeast!
USF President Rhea Law formalized the partnership with Dr. Eduardo Sotomayor, Executive Director of the TGH Cancer Institute, and MMI CEO Mark Toland during a ceremonial signing in Italy, where MMI was founded.
“This exciting partnership fuses the best of academic and private sectors to enhance healthcare for Floridians, providing access to this innovative surgical system,” Law stated in the press release.
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This innovative device is not only groundbreaking but was also featured on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 list, receiving FDA approval for commercialization in April.
Founded in 2015, MMI is dedicated to enhancing the accuracy and precision of microsurgery by creating the “world’s smallest wristed instrument,” which is integral to the Symani system.
Since its inception, the Morsani College of Medicine and TGH have partnered closely, ensuring that USF medical students, nurses, and physical therapy students gain invaluable hands-on training at TGH.
Panetta views this collaboration as a powerful convergence of clinical skills and cutting-edge biotechnological advances, addressing critical clinical challenges.
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This venture exemplifies how diverse fields can unite to tackle complex clinical issues, ultimately benefiting patients, according to Panetta.
As the lead clinician, Panetta will not only perform surgeries using this state-of-the-art device but also guide students, trainees, and residents in mastering its techniques.
Initially, the Symani device will focus on lymphatic surgery, marking a significant advancement in treating cancer-related lymphedema, a condition that can be both debilitating and lifelong.
Panetta emphasizes that the device will greatly enhance surgeons’ abilities to reconstruct tissues damaged by lymphedema and help prevent it from occurring in the first place.
