Distalmotion
Shaping the Future of Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgical innovation is driving the future of healthcare. However, the complexity, large footprint and high costs limit its widespread adoption in resource-limited settings. Distalmotion was founded to empower ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) with better access to robotic surgery, enabling them to offer best-in-class minimally invasive care to patients.

A Swiss medical technology company, Distalmotion focuses on high-volume procedures such as inguinal hernia and cholecystectomy, which are the top procedures performed in ASCs. Its mobile, compact robotic surgery system, DEXTER, simplifies operations across the outpatient site of care by streamlining workflows and reducing turnover time, enabling teams to maximize throughput. Clinically, it provides the benefits of wristed robotics, which bring precision and dexterity over laparoscopic tools—especially beneficial when suturing or dissecting in confined spaces. Developed in collaboration with clinical experts and leading surgical centers, DEXTER received the CE mark in 2020 for general surgery, gynecology, and urology. In late 2024, it achieved FDA De Novo authorization for inguinal hernia repair, followed shortly by FDA 510(k) clearance for cholecystectomy in 2025, paving the way for U.S. entry.

“Our primary mission is to bring the benefits of robotics in care settings like ASCs, where it remains limited today,” says Greg Roche, CEO.

While robotic procedures are projected to double by 2032, most existing platforms remain incompatible with outpatient care. Their footprints are too large for multifunctional rooms, and their workflows require specialized staff, sterilization capabilities, and infrastructure enhancements.

DEXTER is designed to work in standard operating rooms without making any structural changes. It can be easily maneuvered between rooms and adapted to different surgical workflows.

The draped console ensures that the surgeon remains within the sterile field for immediate patient access, enabling real-time communication with the surgical team and promoting efficient coordination. The sterile design enables surgeons to effortlessly switch between laparoscopic and robotic techniques at the push of a button, without the need to redock.

Its open architecture allows surgical departments to choose the most accommodating ecosystem for their site of care. Where traditional systems impose proprietary tools, DEXTER enables integration of best- in-class third-party technologies, particularly in visualization, where innovations like injectable-dye imaging can enhance outcomes. By giving hospitals and ASCs control over their toolsets, Distalmotion avoids the complexity of closed systems and supports their existing workflows, eliminating the need for significant alterations and added costs.

DEXTER supports cost-effectiveness even in lower-reimbursement, low-acuity procedures. Surgeons have the flexibility to choose when to operate robotically. If performing robotically does not add substantial value to a specific task, they can perform it manually, thereby optimizing cost.

Real-world success stories underscore the clinical and operational impact of DEXTER. In Bern, Switzerland, a surgical center is leveraging DEXTER to perform large volumes of day surgeries, enabling patients to benefit from minimally invasive treatment and return home the same day. In the U.S., the company’s first deployments include a surgeon-led ASC in Buffalo and a multi-robot agreement with a leading hospital in Orlando.

With an established footprint in Switzerland, Austria, France, and Germany, Distalmotion is prioritizing expansion in the U.S. outpatient site of care while advancing new clinical indications for DEXTER. It continues to build out commercial operations to support its growing outpatient customer base. Simultaneously, it is working with the FDA to extend DEXTER’s clinical indications across its three core disciplines.

As robotic procedures accelerate globally, the company remains grounded in the belief that each care setting must be matched with the right robot. By delivering a platform that balances precision with mobility, integration with independence, and innovation with access, Distalmotion is closing a critical systemic gap and empowering surgical care.