Medtronic plc has announced the launch of its Signia Stapling System. The latest addition to the company’s minimally invasive surgery (MIS) portfolio, the Signia system provides surgeons with real-time feedback and automated responses to that real-time data.
The Signia system includes Adaptive Firing technology that measures the firing force and adjusts the stapler’s speed based on tissue variability measurements, allowing for consistent staple lines. Human tissue differs in thickness throughout the body and its organ systems. For example, tissue is thinnest at the top of the stomach and thickest at the bottom of the stomach near the small intestine. Adaptive Firing technology can detect the variability of tissue and automatically adjust the stapler’s speed during MIS procedures; this allows surgeons to fire staples consistently and evenly. The Signia system also offers surgeons one-handed staple firing, allowing them to free up their other hand and stay focused on the surgical site.
The benefits of MIS procedures are well documented. MIS is less invasive than traditional open surgery and can be used in multiple surgical procedure areas including thoracic, bariatric, colorectal and gynecological. The Signia system is launching initially in the United States, Western Europe, and Japan. It is expected to roll out to additional global geographies during the company’s fiscal year 2018.