Titan Medical Inc (TMDIF)

[Bristol19]

Wondering whether it is possible ISRG is delaying introduction of their single-port daVinci add-on until SPORT gets some exposure over the next year as, we hope, it continues to meet milestones towards a saleable product.

ISRG may be choosing to introduce theirs (already ready-to-go) as a strong option for current daVinci users, rather than have them even consider SPORT.

In the meantime, ISRG gets to continue to develop theirs, weigh-in Titan's experience with approval and regulatory issues, and get to assess demand, based on SPORT's marketing feedback. They also get time to try and match/counter any SPORT innovations, as much as that is possible.

Right now, given slow sales for daVinci, and lukewarm press for robotic surgery in general, ISGR probably doesn't want to have a "flop" for its eventual move into single port procedures.

Note also, when they come online with their single port, they will promote that it has 3 effectors over SPORT's two. I am positive about this. They will promote usage for a wider number of procedures than SPORT because of it. I task Titan to explain their rationale for only two effectors, when Xi has three. I know some on this board have explained that two are enough, but I'd like to understand Titan's point-of-view, and backed by their SAB.

Personally, I don't think ISRG's delay is about IP. The last thing Titan wants now, I would imagine, is to get into IP wars long before they even have a product to sell.