If you thought your hands were steady, Sony Group Corporation has a robot that would like a word. The company unveiled a new microsurgery assistance robot prototype at the ICRA 2024 conference, and its first party trick was stitching up a single kernel of corn—a feat of dexterity that makes threading a needle look like child’s play. But the viral demo buried the lead: in a February 2024 experiment at Aichi Medical University, the robot enabled medical staff not specialized in microsurgery to successfully connect animal blood vessels with a diameter of just 0.6 mm.
This isn’t an autonomous surgeon; it’s a highly advanced teleoperation tool designed to augment a human surgeon’s abilities. The system translates a surgeon’s hand movements from a sensitive, pen-like controller to the robot’s miniaturized instruments, filtering out natural tremors and allowing for superhuman precision. The operator views the surgical site through a stereoscopic 4K OLED microdisplay, leveraging Sony’s deep expertise in imaging technology. A key innovation is the robot’s ability to automatically exchange its tiny surgical tools, a feature designed to reduce interruptions and delays that plague conventional robotic-assisted procedures.
Why is this important?
Super-microsurgery, which involves operating on nerves and vessels often less than a millimeter wide, is an elite skill held by a limited number of specialists. Sony’s prototype isn’t about replacing those experts, but about democratizing their skills. By creating a system that gives non-specialists the ability to perform incredibly delicate tasks, Sony is tackling a very real problem: a global shortage of highly trained surgeons, exacerbated by an aging workforce. This technology could make complex, life-saving procedures more accessible, consistent, and efficient.
Update: Enter Qoly Corporation
The project has now taken a significant step toward commercialization. A new company, Qoly Corporation, has officially launched to accelerate the development and implementation of this innovative robotic technology.
Qoly announced it has raised 1.8 billion yen (approximately $11.6 million USD) in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Fast Track Initiative, Inc. and MedVenture Partners, Inc., with significant participation from the technology’s originator, Sony Group Corporation, and the Development Bank of Japan Inc.
The new company will inherit the advanced technologies developed during Sony’s medical robotics research. Qoly’s stated mission is to address clinical challenges and improve patient Quality of Life (QOL) by evolving surgical procedures. By focusing on the commercialization of the microsurgery-assistance robot, Qoly aims to prove that the steadiest hand in the operating room might soon be a robotic one available to hospitals everywhere.
