Blab Tech
MediThinQ and Synovis MCA Announce Global Distribution Deal for Digital Microsurgery Platform
In Seoul, a deal announced on June 18, 2026 could change the way microsurgeons operate around the world. MediThinQ, the South Korean maker of high‑resolution exoscope technology, signed an exclusive, multi‑year distribution agreement with Synovis Micro Companies Alliance, Inc. (Synovis MCA), a subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. The partnership will make MediThinQ’s SHIYA 3‑dimensional surgical visualization platform available worldwide through Synovis MCA’s established microsurgery network.
SHIYA is a digital exoscope that replaces the traditional optical microscope with a high‑resolution camera capable of up to 20‑fold magnification. Paired with a lightweight wearable display called SCOPEYE, the system lets surgeons view the surgical field in a heads‑up configuration instead of peering through fixed eyepieces. The platform can capture, store, and stream procedures in real time—a feature increasingly seen as essential for data‑driven surgery, AI analysis, and robotic assistance.
The partnership aims to accelerate global adoption of SHIYA. Synovis MCA brings more than three decades of experience in microsurgical devices and long‑standing relationships with leading hospitals and surgeons worldwide. According to the press release, the agreement will roll out in phases that respect each country’s regulatory requirements and market readiness.
“Digital surgical visualization should not be limited by optical systems,” said MediThinQ CEO Seung Joon IM. “This agreement is an important step in making digital surgical visualization more widely accessible – so that more surgeons, in more settings, can benefit from improved ergonomics, better visibility, and new ways of working.”
Synovis MCA president Michael Campbell echoed that sentiment. “We are honored to work with MediThinQ as their global partner in launching their breakthrough digital vision technology, SHIYA,” he said. “SHIYA is aligned to our mission of being ‘the microsurgeon’s most trusted resource’ by delivering innovative solutions that are safer, efficient, and more effective.”
Clinical validation of SHIYA is supported by peer‑reviewed research. A 2025 review in JPRAS Open led by Prof. Joon‑pio Hong, MediThinQ’s chief medical officer and president of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, examined the role of digital exoscopes in microsurgery and noted their potential to support emerging applications such as augmented and data‑assisted techniques. A separate 2026 study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by Dr. Hyung Bae Kim of Asan Medical Center evaluated the platform’s portability and ergonomic advantages, concluding that it is a viable alternative to conventional microscopes and could be applied to supermicrosurgery, telemicrosurgery, and robotic procedures.
Dr. Peter Neligan, professor emeritus of surgery at the University of Washington, has described SHIYA as “the future of reconstructive microsurgery.” These endorsements underscore the platform’s growing acceptance among specialists.
MediThinQ has already secured regulatory approvals for its products in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Taiwan. The company continues to expand its global regulatory footprint while developing a broader concept of “3D Surgical Intelligence” that integrates visualization, data capture, and analytics into a connected surgical environment.
The terms of the distribution agreement were not disclosed. However, the partnership is expected to leverage Synovis MCA’s commercial and clinical infrastructure to bring SHIYA to a wider range of healthcare systems, including resource‑constrained settings where traditional microscopes are costly and infrastructure‑intensive.
As the agreement moves forward, MediThinQ and Synovis MCA will coordinate to secure regulatory approvals in each target market, aiming to make digital surgical visualization a standard component of microsurgical practice. The collaboration represents a significant step toward the broader adoption of digital tools in operating rooms, potentially reshaping how surgeons work, train, and collaborate across the globe.
SHIYA is a digital exoscope that replaces the traditional optical microscope with a high‑resolution camera capable of up to 20‑fold magnification. Paired with a lightweight wearable display called SCOPEYE, the system lets surgeons view the surgical field in a heads‑up configuration instead of peering through fixed eyepieces. The platform can capture, store, and stream procedures in real time—a feature increasingly seen as essential for data‑driven surgery, AI analysis, and robotic assistance.
The partnership aims to accelerate global adoption of SHIYA. Synovis MCA brings more than three decades of experience in microsurgical devices and long‑standing relationships with leading hospitals and surgeons worldwide. According to the press release, the agreement will roll out in phases that respect each country’s regulatory requirements and market readiness.
“Digital surgical visualization should not be limited by optical systems,” said MediThinQ CEO Seung Joon IM. “This agreement is an important step in making digital surgical visualization more widely accessible – so that more surgeons, in more settings, can benefit from improved ergonomics, better visibility, and new ways of working.”
Synovis MCA president Michael Campbell echoed that sentiment. “We are honored to work with MediThinQ as their global partner in launching their breakthrough digital vision technology, SHIYA,” he said. “SHIYA is aligned to our mission of being ‘the microsurgeon’s most trusted resource’ by delivering innovative solutions that are safer, efficient, and more effective.”
Clinical validation of SHIYA is supported by peer‑reviewed research. A 2025 review in JPRAS Open led by Prof. Joon‑pio Hong, MediThinQ’s chief medical officer and president of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, examined the role of digital exoscopes in microsurgery and noted their potential to support emerging applications such as augmented and data‑assisted techniques. A separate 2026 study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery by Dr. Hyung Bae Kim of Asan Medical Center evaluated the platform’s portability and ergonomic advantages, concluding that it is a viable alternative to conventional microscopes and could be applied to supermicrosurgery, telemicrosurgery, and robotic procedures.
Dr. Peter Neligan, professor emeritus of surgery at the University of Washington, has described SHIYA as “the future of reconstructive microsurgery.” These endorsements underscore the platform’s growing acceptance among specialists.
MediThinQ has already secured regulatory approvals for its products in the United States, Europe, Japan, China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Taiwan. The company continues to expand its global regulatory footprint while developing a broader concept of “3D Surgical Intelligence” that integrates visualization, data capture, and analytics into a connected surgical environment.
The terms of the distribution agreement were not disclosed. However, the partnership is expected to leverage Synovis MCA’s commercial and clinical infrastructure to bring SHIYA to a wider range of healthcare systems, including resource‑constrained settings where traditional microscopes are costly and infrastructure‑intensive.
As the agreement moves forward, MediThinQ and Synovis MCA will coordinate to secure regulatory approvals in each target market, aiming to make digital surgical visualization a standard component of microsurgical practice. The collaboration represents a significant step toward the broader adoption of digital tools in operating rooms, potentially reshaping how surgeons work, train, and collaborate across the globe.
