Versius was designed to overcome limitations of earlier robotic platforms:

• Fully wristed instruments that replicate the natural movements of a surgeon’s hand, offering exceptional dexterity in the narrow chest cavity.

• 3D high-definition vision, giving surgeons a magnified, immersive view of delicate thoracic structures.

• Compact, modular design - each arm is mounted on a lightweight cart, making the system portable between theatres and adaptable to different surgical setups.

• Ergonomic surgeon console, helping to reduce fatigue and allow precise control even during long and complex procedures.

• Versatility across specialties – while adopted at Papworth for thoracic surgery, Versius is also suited to colorectal, gynaecological, and upper GI procedures.

• Digital readiness - capable of collecting detailed operative data to support surgical training, audit, and continuous quality improvement.

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​The collaboration set out to expand access to minimally invasive thoracic procedures, aiming to reduce surgical trauma and post-operative pain while enabling shorter hospital stays and faster recovery. At the same time, it focuses on maintaining or improving long-term surgical outcomes, offering patients greater precision and safety.

The first patient treated with Versius at Papworth was Serena Newton, who had a lobe of her right lung removed for a benign tumour. Thanks to the minimally invasive approach, she spent only three nights in hospital and returned to work in less than three weeks.

By late 2023 and into 2024, the partnership between CMR Surgical and Royal Papworth Hospital was nationally recognised, being named a finalist at the HSJ Partnership Awards for excellence in NHS–industry collaboration.

Today, the thoracic surgery unit at Royal Papworth Hospital is the centre with the world’s largest case series performed using the Versius robotic system, underscoring its role as a global leader in pioneering robotic thoracic surgery.