The breakthrough nod covers bladder lesion removal via en bloc excision with the Virtuoso robot. Nashville, Tennessee–based Virtuoso Surgical says it positions the company “at the forefront of early diagnosis and innovative bladder care.”

Using a surgeon-controlled system with needle-sized robotic arms, the Virtuoso device can significantly enhance the precision and dexterity of minimally invasive surgery performed via rigid endoscopes. That endoscope comes in at less than half the diameter of a U.S. dime. The scope is smaller than current endoscope hardware, the company says, and the manipulators are 1mm in diameter. It also features a camera, tissue grasper, retractor, tissue snare, laser aiming manipulator and electrosurgical tools.