Software Beats Metal: Inside the Strategy for the CMR Surgical Versius Plus Robot

Surgical robotics have been around for more than a decade, yet they haven’t become the ubiquitous tools we expected. One reason is cost. Another is a lack of diversity in options for surgical robots. Enter CMR Surgical and their Versius Plus platform.

I recently had the chance to meet with Luke Hares, CMR Surgical’s Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder at the SAGES 2026 Conference. He shared their laparoscopic telepresence robot is designed differently than the surgical robots available on the market and how their design will help Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).

What makes the Versius system stand out isn’t just its modular, collaborative robot arms that can be easily repositioned around the patient. It’s that their robot is intensely software-defined. Instead of relying entirely on the metal structure (ie: the robotics)  for its advanced features, CMR Surgical leverages software that can be continually updated to accomodate the needs of customers. This allows their system to continue to evolve and stay current with less need for costly hardware changes.

It’s a pragmatic approach that ASCs and hospitals are looking for.

Key Takeaways

• The Mission: Verus was built to make technically demanding minimally invasive surgeries easier so that all patients can benefit.
• The Hardware: The modular system uses standard off-the-shelf components and features collaborative robotic arms that hold articulated instruments and an endoscope. This reduces cost and maintenance.
• The Software: Because the robot’s advanced handling characteristics are defined by software rather than physical hardware , it receives continuous capability upgrades based on surgeon feedback.

Learn more about CMR Surgical at https://us.cmrsurgical.com/

Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.

And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube.

Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.

Surgical robotics have been around for more than a decade, yet they haven’t become the ubiquitous tools we expected. One reason is cost. Another is a lack of diversity in options for surgical robots. Enter CMR Surgical and their Versius Plus platform.

I recently had the chance to meet with Luke Hares, CMR Surgical’s Chief Innovation Officer and co-founder at the SAGES 2026 Conference. He shared their laparoscopic telepresence robot is designed differently than the surgical robots available on the market and how their design will help Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs).

What makes the Versius system stand out isn’t just its modular, collaborative robot arms that can be easily repositioned around the patient. It’s that their robot is intensely software-defined. Instead of relying entirely on the metal structure (ie: the robotics)  for its advanced features, CMR Surgical leverages software that can be continually updated to accomodate the needs of customers. This allows their system to continue to evolve and stay current with less need for costly hardware changes.

It’s a pragmatic approach that ASCs and hospitals are looking for.

Key Takeaways

• The Mission: Verus was built to make technically demanding minimally invasive surgeries easier so that all patients can benefit.
• The Hardware: The modular system uses standard off-the-shelf components and features collaborative robotic arms that hold articulated instruments and an endoscope. This reduces cost and maintenance.
• The Software: Because the robot’s advanced handling characteristics are defined by software rather than physical hardware , it receives continuous capability upgrades based on surgeon feedback.

Learn more about CMR Surgical at https://us.cmrsurgical.com/

Listen and subscribe to the Healthcare IT Today Interviews Podcast to hear all the latest insights from experts in healthcare IT.

And for an exclusive look at our top stories, subscribe to our newsletter and YouTube.

Tell us what you think. Contact us here or on Twitter at @hcitoday. And if you’re interested in advertising with us, check out our various advertising packages and request our Media Kit.