Koh Young, a manufacturer of 3D inspection systems, wants to build up its medical device business in the USA and gain a foothold in Asia and Europe. In the first half of next year, the company plans to launch a robot for brain surgery in the USA, the world's largest market for medical robots.
The manufacturer plans to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval for the neurosurgical robot Kymero in the near future, according to industry sources. It is expected to be launched on the US market under a different name in the first half of 2025, once the FDA review has been completed.
There are around 1,400 hospitals in the US with neurosurgery facilities that can perform brain surgery, said a Koh Young executive. "We intend to enter the global market based on recognition from major South Korean hospitals."
According to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI), the global market for robots will more than double to $12.7 billion by 2025.
The robot, which is equipped with artificial intelligence, uses a high-precision optical sensor to navigate inside the patient's brain without touching nerves or arteries. It can also implant electrodes deep in the brain to treat Parkinson's disease. The Kymero is excellent in terms of software when it comes to implementing images such as CT (computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), said Cho Chul Bum, professor of neurosurgery at Korea Catholic University School of Medicine in Seoul.
The company has been developing medical robots since 2011 to diversify its business portfolio. Its robots have performed more than 500 surgeries at six major local hospitals since 2020, including the country's largest hospital, Seoul National University Hospital.
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