Defining the Debate in Soft Tissue Robotics

Defining the Debate in Soft Tissue RoboticsTo level-set the discussion, Mullings began by asking the panelists to define what “open” and “closed” mean in the context of soft tissue robotics.Greg Roche, CEO of Distalmotion, put it simply: “Choice is the difference between open and closed. When you close something down, you limit the offering in the long term.” Roche argued that open systems allow surgeons and hospitals to pick best-in-class technologies across the surgical stack, building a custom ecosystem instead of being locked into a single vendor.Scott Huennekens, former CEO of Verb Surgical and longtime digital surgery leader, offered a broader systems view. “I never even liked the term ‘robotic surgery.’ I always preferred ‘digital surgery,’” he said. “It’s not just about the robot. It’s about instruments, connectivity, data, analytics, and precision guidance, all working together.”Oliver Keown, CEO of Oath Surgical and former founder and leader of Intuitive Ventures, added that the real goal is to deliver surgical value across the entire continuum of care. “I don’t know if any systems today are truly open or truly closed,” Keown said. “What matters is how technologies align with the outcomes and efficiencies that health systems and surgeons care about.”This blog is originally published here: https://www.lsiusasummit.com/news/the-future-ofsoft-tissue-robotics-open-vs-closed-systems