Robotics as a Surgical Tool
Maria Shepherd, President, Medi-Vantage
Breakout Session: 3PM EDT
Surgical robotics is the ‘sexiest’ medical device technology of the past decade, with a scope and breadth that continues to penetrate almost all medical specialties. Ongoing research, technological advances and wider adoption will continue to propel the surgical robotics sector forward, which is forecasted to reach $13.7 billion by 2026 at a very healthy CAGR of 10.4%. Still, debate continues about the utility of surgical robots for multiple procedures, and there are some concerns whether the next generation of surgical robots can bring cost-effective and high-quality care to rapidly aging populations and underserved markets.
In this keynote session, specifically developed for medical device corporate management, engineers, and designers in the surgical robotics domain, Maria Shepherd, President of Medi-Vantage, a medical device marketing and product development strategy advisory firm, will review the pros and cons of today’s surgical robotics systems. Drawing insights from interviews with surgical robotics developers and thought leaders, she will also discuss what the next generation of surgical robotics systems could and should provide. Additional topics addressed in the keynote include:
- Surgical telepresence systems
- Autonomous surgical robots
- Impact on healthcare providers
- Competition, innovation, and commercial viability
- Expanding market access
Surgical Robotics Innovation and its Impact on Drive Technology
Carsten Horn, Applications Engineering Manager, maxon
Breakout Session: 3PM EDT
Join this session as we review the current field of surgical robots, trends, projected innovations, and active developments. The impacts associated with this sector’s newest challenges have on drive systems will be demonstrated. Drive systems, haptic feedback, miniaturization, non-linear mechanics, autonomous processes, and the impacts to the body using robotic surgery will be touched upon. The presenter will highlight the challenges and solutions to drive systems that power and enable robotic surgery.
Your RoboBusiness Direct Speakers

Maria Shepherd, President, Medi-Vantage
Maria Shepherd launched Medi-Vantage in 2007 and since that time the company has worked with over 250 medical device companies to determine acquisition and pricing strategies, commercialize new medical device technologies, and assist product development teams in the design or re-engineering of medical devices. Prior to launching Medi-Vantage, Shepherd was VP of Marketing for Oridion (acquired by Medtronic), Director of Marketing for Philips, serving the critical care patient monitoring division, and also served at Boston Scientific in senior management roles. She also serves on the board of MedExecWomen, an organization focused on empowering females executives in medtech. Shepherd received an MBA from Babson College, and a BA in Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Carsten Horn, Applications Engineering Manager, maxon
Carsten Horn is from Germany where he studied physics and mechatronics. Horn worked as head of design and R&D at various companies before joining maxon motor Germany in 2004 as head of Research & Development for gear boxes and systems. He later headed the product management team at maxon Germany where he focused on design of components for medical device products. Horn moved to the USA in late 2016 where he now resides as Applications Engineering Manager at maxon precision motors, a leading supplier of high precision drives and systems.
About RoboBusiness Direct
RoboBusiness Direct is an ongoing series of digital events delivered by brightest minds from the leading robotics and automation organizations around the world. The series complements continuing coverage and analysis in Robotics Business Review.
RoboBusiness Direct is designed to impart to business and engineering professionals the information they need to identify market opportunities, successfully develop and deploy the next generation of commercial robotics systems, and accelerate their businesses.
You can find a listing of RoboBusiness Direct speakers and session topics, along with the dates and times of RoboBusiness Direct programs, HERE.
There is no charge to register for RoboBusiness Direct programs.