SS Invocations International Inc.
SSi Mantra
Chronology
Updated Apr 26, 2026
Updated Apr 27, 2026
First case series BABA thyroidectomy. Mar 13, 2026.
First cardiac surgery in Latin America (Interhospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador). June 8, 2025.
World first robotic TECAB telesurgery (Manipal Hospital in Jaipur, Rajasthan). Jan 2025.
Release SSi Mantra 3. July 2024.
First human series published. July 2024.
500 procedure milestone. Nov 17, 2023.
First hospital instalation (Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi). July 2022.
Essays in human cadaveric models. 2020.
Essays in animal models. 2019.
SS Innovations founded by Dr Sudhir Srivastava. 2015.
Company overview
SS Innovations International Inc. (SSii) is an Indian-origin surgical robotics company founded by cardiac surgeon Sudhir Srivastava in 2015. From the beginning, the project has had a very clear ambition: not to redefine robotic surgery from a technological standpoint, but to make it accessible at scale by dramatically reducing cost (actually, estimates suggest costs up to three times lower than traditional systems in the Indian market).
For several years (2015-2021), the company remained in a pure R&D phase, focused on building its core robotic platform (SSi Mantra), developing its own instrumentation ecosystem and generating intellectual property. This period was critical in establishing a fully integrated system developed largely in-house, rather than assembling third-party components.
in 2022, SS Innovations initiated commercial deployment of the SSi Mantra system, and so transitioned from development to a commercial-stage company. Next year, 2023, a recapitalization and corporate restructuring integrated earlier entities (including CardioVentures and related IP) into SS Innovations, effectively creating the current corporate structure and asset base.
In 2024 the company launched SSi Mantra 3 (third-generation platform) and incorporated Frederic Moll (October 2024), co-founder of Intuitive, as Vice Chairman. This was a major strategic milestone, signalling the maturation of the company and the intent to compete globally. In March 2026 the company announced completion of an $18.6 million private placement to support growth Initiatives.
Regulatory status and global expansion
SSi Mantra is no longer a prototype or early-stage system. It is already in broad clinical use, particularly in India, where it represents the most mature alternative to established platforms.
Clinical activity is updated in the web. Upon writing this page there were more than 10000 surgeries performed, more than 190 SSi Mantra instalations, more than 1400 surgeons trained, and more than 165 telesurgeries performed.
Unlike most competitors, SSi Mantra places strong emphasis on beating-heart procedures and TECAB (Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass). This reflects the background of its founder; cardiac surgery may represent a strategic niche positioning.
Deployment is still geographically asymmetric. There is, understandably, a strong presence in India, and it is commercial available in several additional countries (including parts of Asia and Latin America). ¿Europe and the US?
- FDA 510k pathway. Submission was completed by Dec 8, 2025.
- CE mark is in process and expected by the company in the first half of 2016.
This places SSI Mantra in a transitional phase, clinically validated, but not yet globally established.
System architecture and design philosophy
From a technical perspective, SSi Mantra follows a now familiar path: a modular, multi-arm robotic platform. The system allows flexible configurations with three, four, or five arms (including the camera). The fifth arm is a novelty, although real-world data suggest that four-arm setups dominate clinical practice.
The surgeon console has an open design, requiring polarized glasses for 3D visualization. This design choice has implications: it improves situational awareness in the operating room but sacrifices the immersive isolation of closed consoles. We already has experience with other devices like Versius or Hugo.
An interesting addition is the presence of a secondary display integrated into the console, allowing real-time access to additional data (imaging, parameters, workflow control). This reflects a gradual shift toward more information-rich surgical environments, although it is not, in itself, a disruptive feature.
Mechanically, the system uses wristed instruments with a retrograde architecture of the holding arms (like da Vinci or Hugo, unlike Versius). There is no obvious paradigm shift here. Instrumentation, degrees of freedom, and overall ergonomics fall within the expected range of second-generation systems.
Clinical data support this impression. In a large multicentric study including 3,694 cases, SSI Mantra demonstrated low intraoperative adverse event rates (~0.6%)and conversion rates around 4%, consistent performance across specialties. This study included 48 cases (1,3%) of Head&Neck Robotic Surgery.
Where SSi Mantra clearly stands out is in telesurgery. The platform has already been used in clinical telesurgical procedures, including human cases, with acceptable latency and system performance. This is not a conceptual feature—it is a demonstrated capability. In a field where remote surgery has long been discussed but rarely implemented in practice, this may represent one of the most meaningful advances associated with the system.
SSi Mantra™ Architecture: Console, Arms, and Vision System
The SSI Mantra™ platform is built around three core components: the surgeon command center (SCC), the patient-side arm carts (PSACs), and the vision cart. This architecture follows the now well-established separation between surgeon interface, operative field, and visualization system, but with some specific design choices worth noting.
The surgeon command center is an open console, based on a 32-inch 3D display (Eizo EX3220) with full high-definition resolution. Unlike closed systems, the surgeon operates using polarized 3D glasses, maintaining visual contact with the operating room environment. A head-tracking system is integrated into the console, acting as a safety mechanism: if the surgeon looks away from the screen, instrument motion is automatically disengaged.
The console incorporates two hand controllers with a palm-grip design, including pinch controls and clutch functions for instrument manipulation. At the base, a multi-pedal unit allows control of energy devices, camera operation, clutching, and instrument exchange. A secondary touchscreen embedded in the console provides access to system controls, troubleshooting, and patient data, including imaging via PACS. Overall, the design prioritizes ergonomics and workflow integration rather than immersion.
On the patient side, the system is organized as a modular, multi-arm platform, with up to five independent carts: one dedicated to the endoscope and up to four for instrumentation. In practice, most procedures are performed using four arms. Each arm is mounted on an individual cart and consists of a boom, a robotic arm, and a mobile base. Only the distal segment of the arm enters the sterile field.
Mechanically, each arm provides seven degrees of freedom across six joints, enabling a range of motion consistent with current robotic standards. Positioning is assisted by a laser-based registration system, which maps the spatial relationship between the carts and the operating table, helping define the operative workspace and potentially reducing arm collisions. The carts are height-adjustable and designed to be repositioned easily, reinforcing the system’s modular philosophy.
The vision cart completes the system. It mirrors the surgeon’s view through a second 32-inch 3D display, allowing the entire surgical team to share the same stereoscopic image. It also integrates the OMNI 3D HD™ platform, which supports recording, playback, and live streaming, including tele-proctoring and remote observation.
The SSI Mantra™ uses a 12 mm port for the endoscope, which is based on the ENDOEYE FLEX 3D system (Olympus). This is a chip-on-tip videoscope with a four-way articulating distal tip, controlled by the bedside assistant. This configuration allows dynamic control of the visual field without repeated scope exchanges, although it differs from systems where the surgeon directly controls endoscope articulation.
The working arms are docked through 10 mm ports and support a growing range of robotic instruments, currently numbering around 30. These include the standard set expected in robotic surgery: monopolar scissors, bipolar forceps, graspers, and needle drivers, with some instruments incorporating integrated cutting functions. From a technical standpoint, the instrumentation is consistent with current-generation robotic systems. There are no obvious disruptive innovations, but the platform provides the necessary versatility to support a wide range of procedures across specialties.
SSii Ecosystem
Beyond the robotic platform itself, SSii has developed a broader technological ecosystem built around the SSI Mantra. The system is complemented by SSI Mudra, a dedicated suite of robotic endosurgical instruments designed for precise and versatile clinical use, and SSI Maya, a digital layer incorporating XR technologies for simulation, training, and tele-mentoring. This is further supported by SSI Yantra, a multimedia and connectivity platform enabling 3D recording, live streaming, tele-proctoring, and integration of preoperative data into the surgical workflow. Together, these components reflect a clear strategy: not just to deliver a robot, but to build a connected surgical environment integrating instrumentation, training, data, and remote collaboration. They have named it SSI Sutra.
Related posts:
SSi Mantra. The Indian Robotic System. Apr 26, 2026.
Links:
References:
First clinical experience
Rawal SK, Khanna A, Singh A, Pratihar SK, Malla I, Ali M, Vasudeo V, Jaganthan K, Kumar B, Saurabh N. Robotic uro-oncology applications of the SSI Mantra™ surgical robotic system. Asian J Urol. 2025 Apr;12(2):143-151. doi: 10.1016/j.ajur.2024.04.009. Epub 2024 Nov 13. PMID: 40458569; PMCID: PMC12126953.
Head and Neck Surgery
Somashekhar Sp, Sugara M, Agrawal K, Rawal SK, Singh A, Mehrotra M, Gajbhiye R, Vaddi C, Voleti S, Mehrotra L, Gorthi G, Somashekhar M, Rajput NK. Real-world performance of the SSI Mantra™ robotic system: a multi-centric multi-specialty study evaluating its safety and surgical applications. J Robot Surg. 2026 Jan 3;20(1):136. doi: 10.1007/s11701-025-03118-2. PMID: 41483262; PMCID: PMC12764659
Agrawal K, Kr A, C R, Subramaniam N, Joseph E, Shanbhag E, Safi C, Sahindrakar O, Goyal J, Sp S. Experience Based Procedure Guide for Robotic Bilateral Axillo-breast Approach (BABA) Thyroidectomy Using the SSI MANTRA Robotic System: Feasibility, Safety, and Early Outcomes from a Prospective Case Series. Indian J Surg Oncol. 2026 Apr;17(4):770-777. doi: 10.1007/s13193-026-02563-1. Epub 2026 Mar 13. PMID: 42023203; PMCID: PMC13096366Head and Neck Surgery
J Granell
Robotic Surgeon
Prior to commencing my venture into robotic surgery, I had established a firm grounding as an oncologic surgeon. My experience encompassed a wide range of resective and reconstructive procedures, as well as proficiency in minimally invasive surgical techniques and endoscopic surgery. These acquired skills and expertise serve as fundamental pillars for achieving success in robotic surgery.
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