Intuitive Wins FDA Nod for Vessel Sealer Curved

Intuitive has earned U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the latest innovation in advanced energy instrumentation for use with its multiport da Vinci systems.

Vessel Sealer Curved is a fully wristed, advanced bipolar electrosurgical instrument to seal, cut, grasp, and dissect tissue. It’s the first of the company’s advanced energy instruments to receive an FDA nod for transection of lymphatic vessels.

Its slim, curved jaw was designed to follow the anatomy’s natural contours to improve visibility and control, especially in tight spaces and around critical structures. The instrument’s mechanical blade cuts closer to the tip, offering versatility as a dissector.

The Vessel Sealer Curved was cleared for grasping and blunt dissection of tissue, as well as bipolar coagulation and mechanical transection of blood vessels (veins and arteries) up to 7mm in diameter, lymphatic vessels, and tissue bundles that fit within the instrument’s jaws. It’s not indicated for tubal sterilization or tubal coagulation for sterilization procedures.

“We designed Vessel Sealer Curved to give surgeons greater precision in narrow anatomical spaces,” said Iman Jeddi, Ph.D., senior vice president and general manager, da Vinci platforms & product operations. “By combining the trusted performance of Vessel Sealer Extend with a slimmer, curved jaw profile, we’re helping surgeons work more efficiently and confidently across a wide range of procedures.”

Earlier this week, Intuitive’s da Vinci 5 surgical system was awarded CE mark approval for adult and pediatric use for minimally invasive endoscopic procedures across abdominopelvic and thoracoscopic surgical procedures, including urologic, gynecologic, and general laparoscopic procedures.