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What if a surgical needle could stop automatically the moment it enters the abdominal cavity?
The first entry into the abdomen remains one of the riskiest parts of the operation. With more than 15 million laparoscopic procedures performed globally each year this is an important problem to solve.
VeressPLUS transforms laparoscopic entry through a patented Automatic Decoupling Mechanism, designed to provide a new level of control and precision during one of the most critical steps in minimally invasive surgery.
ProVinci Medtech is a medical device company based in The Hague, the Netherlands.
Laparoscopic surgery has transformed modern surgery, but the first entry into the abdomen remains a critical point of risk. According to iData Research, approximately 15.2 million laparoscopic procedures were performed globally in 2023.
Entry-related injuries are uncommon, but can be severe. A large meta-analysis reported 0.7 bowel injuries and 0.4 major vascular injuries per 1,000 laparoscopic entries. Reviews have also reported that more than half of laparoscopic injuries occur during initial entry.
The consequences can be devastating. In a review of 594 entry injuries in 506 patients, Chandler and colleagues reported that bowel and retroperitoneal vascular injuries accounted for 76% of cases. Nearly half of bowel injuries were not recognised for 24 hours or longer, and 13% of patients died.
The Veress needle is inserted blindly through the abdominal wall to establish pneumoperitoneum. The surgeon must recognise the moment the needle enters the peritoneal cavity and stop its forward movement using experience, technique and tactile feedback.
The challenge is that this transition happens in a fraction of a second. As resistance drops suddenly, insertion force continues to drive the needle forward, creating the potential for unintended overshooting.
“Human judgement is fundamental to surgery. But when a critical transition happens in a split second, we should not rely on reaction time alone,” says David Cefai, founder and CEO of ProVinci Medtech.
VeressPLUS is designed around the patented Automatic Decoupling Mechanism.
The mechanism is designed to activate when the needle tip enters the peritoneal space, interrupting the forward force and minimising unintended overshooting and its associated risks.
Its reaction time is approximately 160 milliseconds.
“Think of it as an automatic braking system, with lightning fast reflexes,” says Cefai.
VeressPLUS is designed to maintain the familiar principles of Veress needle insertion while introducing additional automatic control at the critical moment.
The objective is precision that feels natural.
The results are centred on one fundamental measure: controlling insertion depth.
Preclinical development testing shows that VeressPLUS achieves the Optimal Insertion Depth of 10 mm in 95% of insertions, compared with 5% with existing Veress needles. The results also show that these results are achieved from the first procedures executed by surgeons in training.
“VeressPLUS narrows the experience gap by delivering consistent results from the very first use,” says Cefai.
The VeressPLUS development programme is supported by a growing body of peer-reviewed research.
The programme has been carried out with engineers at Delft University of Technology and surgeons at Amsterdam UMC, Leiden University Medical Center and the University of Malta, all co-authors on the published studies.
Studies published in Surgical Endoscopy in 2021 and 2026, Annals of Medicine and Surgery in 2023 and Scientific Reports in 2023 have evaluated different aspects of the technology, including the mechanism, insertion depth, surgeon experience, learning curve and the potential clinical relevance of reducing Veress needle overshooting.
Together, these studies provide a growing body of preclinical evidence supporting the underlying engineering principle and its potential to improve control during laparoscopic entry.
Surgeons have been asked what they think of it. In a survey of 365 surgeons from 58 countries, published in Scientific Reports, 70% said they would use VeressPLUS in patients of normal body mass index if its performance claims hold, rising to 76% in high-BMI patients, where entry is hardest. 61% of respondents asked to take part in the VeressPLUS research programme and a further 25% said they might. That intent is conditional on clinical confirmation.
“Our evidence at this stage is preclinical. We have spent years establishing the engineering principle and testing it in controlled environments. The next step is to take that evidence into clinical testing,” Cefai says.
The focus is now moving from research and development towards manufacturing, regulatory progress and clinical evidence.
ProVinci has engaged reputable manufacturing partners in China and Germany to support the manufacturing pathway. The company is pursuing an asset-light model, allowing it to focus on intellectual property, product development, regulatory strategy, clinical evidence and commercialisation while working with established manufacturing partners.
The company is also building its commercial pathway through distribution and strategic industry relationships with major European distributors to make VeressPLUS available across the major laparoscopic markets.
“Our objective is to bring this innovation into the hands of surgeons as quickly as possible,” Cefai says.
And VeressPLUS is only the first instrument to carry the mechanism. The patented principle can be applied to other surgical instruments.
The Automatic Decoupling Mechanism represents a broader mechanical principle that ProVinci is exploring for other first-access devices.
The Veress needle market itself is around €286 million in 2026 and is growing at 5.42% a year. It is supplied today by commodity needles from every major surgical manufacturer; however, none of the competitors offer an automatic braking system.
ProVinci sees potential applications across areas including abdominal trocars, chest drains and surgical airways, representing an estimated total addressable market of €1.5 billion.
The significance of the platform is that the underlying principle is not tied exclusively to one needle but to a series of first access devices.
The mechanism itself is protected by a patent family granted across key markets.
“The potential of this innovation is significant. The same underlying principle could be applied across a range of first-access devices in surgery and medicine, including abdominal trocars, chest drains and surgical airways,” Cefai says.
ProVinci has opened an investment round to fund the next stage of VeressPLUS development, focused on manufacturing, regulatory progress and preparation for first-in-human clinical investigation.
The funding will support the transition from development prototype to production device, including tooling, first articles, implementation of an ISO 13485 quality management system, and the testing and validation required for clinical investigation.
“We have spent years developing and testing the technology. Now we are ready to take the next step from engineering innovation towards clinical application,” Cefai concludes.
MedTech World returns to Malta for MedTech World Europe 2026, its biggest edition yet. Taking place from 11-13 November 2026, MedTech Malta Week expands the traditional conference into a five-day experience across Malta and Gozo, bringing together investors, founders, healthcare leaders, innovators, and industry experts from across the global MedTech ecosystem.
The week opens with the MedTech World Investors Retreat in Gozo from 9–11 November, offering accredited investors and senior industry leaders an exclusive setting for strategic conversations, networking, workshops, and curated experiences. The programme then moves to Malta for a cultural immersion day in Valletta and Mdina on 11 November, before the main MedTech World Europe conference takes place from 11 to 13 November at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta.
Throughout the conference, attendees can expect keynote sessions, panel discussions, workshops, company showcases, investor meetings, an exhibition floor, and the MedTech World Startup Pitch Competition, followed by the MedTech World Gala Awards, honoring achievements across the global MedTech ecosystem.
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