Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) Gets Approval from FDA for Its Firefly Imaging To Use in Da Vinci Xi

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By Chris Hillman on August 25, 2014 Technology & Software

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) recently announced that it received FDA’s approval to use its fluorescence imaging system, commonly known as the Firefly imaging, in its recently launched robotic system, da Vinci Xi. News has it that now the company will be able to ship its robotic systems with Firefly imaging installed in them.

The company introduced its Firefly imaging back in 2011 to use in the surgical systems in Europe and United States. With the help of this technology, the surgical system synchronizes a camera with the florescent color; the surgeon can use this system together with laser beams and endoscope to locate the vasculatures that are usually present beneath the tissue layers.

The FDA approval for this system means that the surgeons will now be able to locate the leakage of blood, which usually happens beneath the tissue layers, without using any heavy machinery.

Moreover, Firefly is also used for a whole array of other purposes as well; surgeons can use this system to locate the biliary duct in the cases that revolve around the removal of gallbladder.

It is important to note here that there are high chances of surgeons mistakenly locating the cystic vessel as the bile duct; such mistakes can lead to heavy injuries as the wrong duct gets clipped. However, with the help of this Firefly system, such mistakes can be prevented.

Firefly can be synchronized with a high quality video camera; surgeons can view the images of bile duct on the camera while performing the operation. Professionals can also choose between visible light, standard or near infrared image settings before they start the surgeries.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) launched its da Vinci Xi in April 2014, and since then, the company has successfully gotten approvals for three other systems that can be used in da Vinci Xi. The advanced da Vinci Xi offers numerous new and improved features that its previous versions do not offer. Not only does the new system include wristed instruments in the imaging but it also supports ergonomic design and intuitive motion.

Moreover, the new versions support 3D-HD imaging. The 3D-HD features allow the surgeons to view the inside of the patient through magnified and improved image quality, which in turn help them to perform the surgery properly and successfully.

In July, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) received approval from FDA for its EndoWrist stapler 45, which can be used with da Vinci Xi. The product allows the surgeons to view wristed articulation. Back in June, the company received approval for its Endo Wrist Sealer; this product can be used to cut and seal ducts that have a maximum diameter of 7mm.

The company currently has a ‘hold’ rating on its stocks.

Coming to the stock prices of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG), the company, on the last trading day, August 22, 2014, started its stocks at a price of $472.41 and closed at a price of $471.74. The company has a market capitalization of $16.97 billion with a price to earnings ratio of 38.79.