Tampa General and USF Health to Bring World’s Most Precise Robotic Surgical Technology to Florida

The Agreement, Established as Part of Governor Ron DeSantis’ Trade Mission to Italy, Makes Tampa General Hospital the First Health System in the Southeastern United States to Offer Robotic-Assisted Lymphatic Microsurgery.

Milan, Italy (Nov. 15, 2024) – Tampa General Hospital and the University of South Florida announced today an agreement with Medical Microinstruments, Inc., or MMI, to bring the Symani Surgical System, a first-of-its-kind robotic technology, to support lymphatic surgery at TGH. This will be the first and only technology of its kind available in the Southeastern United States and is expected to improve patient outcomes for the most complex procedures involving delicate anatomy.

“At Tampa General Hospital, we’ve invested in the latest technologies and recruited best-in-class providers to make Florida the destination for innovation in health care,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. “Now, with the support of Governor Ron DeSantis and our state leaders, we’re opening doors to new partnerships and introducing more of the world’s best technologies in health care to Florida. Because of these efforts, our patients can count on us for world-class care, better outcomes and a higher quality of life.”

USF President Rhea Law said the agreement with MMI will enhance USF Health and TGH's position as one of the nation’s leading academic health systems. 

“This unique and exciting partnership brings together the very best from both academic medicine and private industry to achieve progress in health care for Floridians who otherwise would not have access to this innovative surgical system in our state,” Law said.  “We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and our state leaders for their support in helping us improve lives and build a healthier future.”

 

“Congratulations to everyone involved in today’s MOU signing,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida boasts the best in health care, medical technology, and innovation, and we will continue to support our businesses and hospitals in forging new paths and partnerships. This new robotic surgical technology will increase the quality of life for those battling or recovering from cancer and make procedures for Floridians more precise and less invasive.”

 

Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, said this innovation showcases the strength of academic medicine.

 

“We appreciate that Governor DeSantis and our state legislators understand and support the innovative nature of academic medicine,” said Dr. Lockwood, who also serves as executive vice president and chief academic officer at TGH. “Our faculty physicians have the expertise to bring cutting-edge care to our patients in even the most complex cases.”

 

The agreement was reached during a trade mission to Italy this week hosted by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis. President Law formally signed the agreement with MMI during a special ceremony in Italy. Nicholas J. Panetta, M.D., FACS, chief of Tampa General Hospital Plastic Surgery and chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery in the Morsani College of Medicine, and Eduardo M. Sotomayor, M.D., director of the TGH Cancer Institute, also joined the trade mission.

 

MMI’s Symani Surgical System uniquely addresses the scale and complexities of microsurgery and supermicrosurgery to restore quality of life for more patients and enable more surgeons to perform complex procedures for delicate anatomy. The system features smaller robotic components coupled with enhanced controls so that surgeons can suture tiny vessels and nerves as small as .2 millimeters in diameter.

“The problem of cancer-related lymphedema that this collaboration is focused on tackling is significant. Unfortunately, today there is only a handful of surgeons with the skills necessary to treat this often-debilitating condition. The collaboration between MMI, USF and TGH is going to make substantial progress for patients on this front,” said Dr. Nicholas Panetta, chief of TGH Plastic Surgery and chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. 

“TGH Cancer Institute is very fortunate to be working with Dr. Panetta’s team in building a unique microsurgery and reconstructive oncology program at USF/TGH with a particular focus in breast cancer patients, that would be among the best in the nation and worldwide,” said Dr. Sotomayor.

 

MMI’s Symani Surgical System is a less invasive surgical treatment for reconstructions and lymphedema. Patients who benefit from the technology experience reduced vessel trauma and require fewer additional procedures.

 

Surgeons who use MMI’s Symani Surgical System can accelerate the development of their microsurgical skills and generate higher success rates while reducing adverse events.

 

MMI’s Symani Surgical System is just the most recent addition to Tampa General’s host of technologies that support minimally invasive surgical procedures. In August, TGH announced the acquisition of the new Intuitive da Vinci 5® Surgical System. Tampa General was the first hospital in the region to offer the new surgical system.