R2 Surgical's Green Initiative Offers Used & Remanufactured Instruments

What if the real breakthrough in robotic surgery isn’t the robot at all?

As the da Vinci system became standard in hospitals across the country, so too did something less celebrated: high costs, limited-use tools, and a growing stream of perfectly functional instruments ending up as waste.

In most industries, like aviation, automotive, electronics, reuse is the norm. But in surgery, expiration often means disposal. At R2 Surgical, we’re working to flip that logic. By partnering with Restore Robotics, a FDA-cleared remanufacturer of da Vinci instruments, we’re opening up a more affordable, sustainable future for surgical robotics.

This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about questioning assumptions. Do tools have to be new to be safe? Does progress always require replacement?

The Problem with Planned Expiration

Robotic instruments have use limits. That’s good policy when it protects patients. But in practice, many tools discarded after their cycle often still work flawlessly (some after a bit of intervention).

So we asked a radical question: What if we could help to remanufacture those tools, certify them again, and put them back into service safely?

FDA-Cleared Remanufacturing in Action

Through our partnership with Restore Robotics, we have access to the only FDA 510(k)-cleared process (K242610) for remanufacturing da Vinci Si and Xi instruments. These aren’t repairs. They’re full resets — with rigorous visual, functional, and electrical testing.

Encore Medical Device Repair distributes them. Restore handles the remanufacturing. R2 Surgical manages collections.

Intuitive Surgical, the original manufacturer, has granted approval to Restore Robotics for this program, which helps broaden hospitals’ options and supports more efficient, cost-conscious surgical care.

Introducing the Green Initiative

That vision of remanufacturing and smarter resource use comes to life through our Green Initiative, a structured initiative designed to close the loop on robotic instrument waste and offer hospitals a sustainable alternative to one-and-done tools.

The Green Initiative is built to be both impactful and easy to adopt. Participating hospitals collect and prepare broken or end-of-life da Vinci instruments, which are then shipped using prepaid labels. From there, the instruments are either responsibly recycled or sent through the certified remanufacturing process.

Once enrolled in the program, hospitals can access remanufactured da Vinci instruments at a 20% discount — a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to buying new.

Additionally, participants can receive a no-cost 60-day utilization audit, ongoing logistics support, and a complimentary iPad pre-loaded with access to our R2 Portal — a custom digital dashboard that tracks instruments collected, waste diverted, and environmental impact in real time.

How the Collection System Works

We make it easy to participate:

1. Sign Up & Receive the Collection Kit: Enroll. Get bins, trays, secure boxes, and a prepaid shipping label.
2. Fill: Place instruments in trays and bins.
3. Ship: Send back using the provided packaging.
4. Remanufacture or Recycle: Instruments are either remanufactured per FDA 510k clearnace or sustainably recycled.
5. Repeat: Fresh bins arrive, keeping the loop in motion.

Facilities get step-by-step instructions, and once enrolled, they can use the R2 Portal to request additional supplies after being enrolled in the program for 30 days.

More Uses. Less Waste.

Our Green Initiative also offers certified pre-owned instruments with remaining uses.

Each one is guaranteed to be:

• Logged and cleaned

• Functionally and electrically tested

• Certified for use count

These instruments could’ve been scrapped. Instead, they’re part of a smarter lifecycle that reduces waste and lowers cost without compromising performance.

Safety Isn’t Sacrificed

Let’s be clear: these instruments are safe. They’re FDA-cleared, tested individually (not in batches), and guaranteed to perform. If a customer isn’t satisfied, you'll receive a credit for the number of uses left plus one additional use — no questions asked.

This challenges a core belief: that "new" means "safe" and "used" means "risky." In reality, the data (and the FDA approval) suggest otherwise.

Why Alternative Models Matter

Efforts like this often start outside the traditional supply chain. Not because the system is broken, but because it's optimized for a different outcome. Our program offers a complementary approach: one that focuses on reducing waste, extending device life, and improving access without compromising safety or standards.

A New Definition of Value

This isn’t just about savings. It’s about priorities:

• Sustainability and cost containment

• Efficiency without compromise

• Responsible growth

In a system built for consumption — of tools, budgets, and people — we’re proudly offering something different: continuity. Accountability. A smarter way to extend value in surgical care.

Learn more about the Green Initiative here or contact Amber Oblinger at amber@r2surgical.com