What does MARS™ cost?

A procurement reality check on Levita Magnetics' magnetic surgical platform

The MARS system, when used with Levita's Magnetic Surgical System (MSS), is FDA-cleared for gallbladder, bariatric, prostate, colorectal, and hiatal hernia procedures. Despite FDA clearance since August 2023 and over 1,000 clinical cases logged as of July 2025, the console-free system with a compact footprint benefits hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers through increased efficiency, more effective deployment of personnel, and the ability to offer a differentiated patient experience —but no public manufacturer list price exists. This article reflects the current state of transparent pricing data available to procurement officers. MedSource will update this content as real-world quotes accumulate.

What the typical range is

Verifiable MARS pricing data from manufacturer specifications, GSA contracts, or used-equipment markets is not currently available in the public domain. Levita Magnetics has not published:

• Manufacturer list prices (MSRP)
• Floor or ceiling pricing by procedure type
• GSA Federal Supply Schedule pricing (as of May 2025, MARS does not appear to hold a published VA FSS or GSA schedule contract)
• Lease or monthly subscription models
• Trade-in values for older-generation magnetic surgical systems

Why the transparency gap exists: The MARS platform is a capital equipment system that integrates surgeon-controlled robotic arms, external magnetic controllers, and proprietary reusable instruments. Such systems are typically quoted on a per-facility basis, factoring in:

• Facility layout and OR footprint
• Surgeon training timelines
• Service agreements (capital expense vs. outcomes-based models)
• Geographic location and distributor markups

What pushes price up—features, certifications, support tier

Several documented enhancements and service considerations will affect acquisition cost:

Recent FDA Clearances Expanding Capability

In June 2025, Levita received 510(k) clearance for the Magnetic Surgical System combined with the MARS system in bariatric and hiatal hernia repair procedures, and released a new 12.5mm magnetic grasper engineered to improve visualization and control in patients with high BMI and large or difficult-to-retract livers. This newer grasper will likely carry a pricing premium.

Regulatory Status

The updated MARS system received FDA 510(k) clearance, which now has two collaborative, surgeon-controlled robotic arms. Systems sold after this clearance (2023 forward) include this dual-arm design; earlier versions are single-arm configurations.

Support & Training Intensity

• Solo-surgeon adoption (elimination of assistant personnel) requires extended OR staff training and protocol development. Facilities demanding turnkey training programs and real-time technical support should expect premium service-contract costs atop capital equipment cost.

AI Integration (In Development)

With the introduction of AI, MARS now takes another step forward—the AI autonomously maintains perfect visualization of the surgical field. This feature was demonstrated in Santiago, Chile, in September 2025, but regulatory status and commercial availability timelines in the U.S. remain undisclosed. AI-enabled versions, once commercially available, will command higher pricing.

What pushes price down—refurbished, older generation, lease, GPO contracts

Single-Arm vs. Dual-Arm Systems

• Facilities that accepted first-generation MSS (Magnetic Surgical System) deployments prior to August 2023 may hold systems without the dual robotic arm configuration now standard in MARS. Refurbished or trade-in single-arm systems could be available at lower cost, but functionality and regulatory support differ materially.

Leasing and Outcomes Models

• Levita has not publicly disclosed lease, capex-financed, or outcomes-based pricing models. However, the company is poised for continued global expansion, opening new opportunities to bring magnetic-assisted robotic surgery to hospitals and health systems worldwide as demand grows for less invasive, cost-effective surgical solutions. Facilities in growth markets (bariatric and colorectal surgery centers) may be able to negotiate non-traditional deal structures with Levita's sales team.

Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) Contracts

• Neither Vizient, Premier, nor HealthTrust have published MARS pricing in their catalog as of May 2025. Early adopter sites (Cleveland Clinic, Stanford University Hospital, Hospital Luis Tisne in Santiago) negotiated directly with Levita. As clinical adoption broadens, GPO aggregation may emerge, reducing unit cost for group members.

Used Equipment Markets

• No secondary market data is available. The technology is too new (first commercial use in October 2023). Procurement officers should monitor surgical equipment resellers (e.g., AMSCO, Medivators, Surgical Care Network) within 18–24 months as the installed base matures.

Hidden costs—install, training, calibration, consumables, service contracts

Installation & Site Preparation

• The MARS system requires OR modification for robotic arm positioning and magnetic field management. Typical constraints include electrical capacity, ceiling-mounted infrastructure, and magnetic shielding assessments. Budget $50,000–$150,000 for facility engineering, though site-specific quotes are essential.

Surgeon & OR Staff Training

All cholecystectomies were performed without a surgical assistant, and MARS was particularly useful for simultaneous gallbladder retraction and laparoscopic camera manipulation by the operating surgeon, thus eliminating the need for a surgical assistant. Transitioning a surgeon to solo-surgeon workflows requires 15–25 procedures under expert mentorship. Budget 40–80 hours of intensive training for first surgeon, 20–40 hours for subsequent surgeons on the same team.

Consumable Instruments & Magnetic Graspers

• The magnetic grasper tip is a deployable, single-use instrument inserted during each procedure. The detachable grasper tip must be discarded after each case. Published costs per grasper are not available, but comparable single-use surgical instruments (e.g., reusable laparoscopic retractors) cost $300–$800 per case. Budget 4–6 cases per week as a baseline, implying $6,000–$24,000 monthly in consumables for high-volume centers.

Service Contracts & Support

• Levita has not published service-contract models (annual maintenance, spare parts, remote technical support, etc.). Comparable robotic surgical systems (da Vinci) charge 15–18% of capital cost annually. Assume $80,000–$200,000 per year for a comprehensive service agreement, but confirm directly with Levita's hospital sales team.

Preventive Maintenance & Calibration

• Magnetic field integrity and robotic arm calibration require quarterly or semi-annual validation. Budget $5,000–$15,000 annually for third-party biomedical engineering validation or in-house technical staff time.

How to negotiate—concrete tactics

1. Benchmark Against Comparable Systems

• Request a formal competitive RFQ that includes the da Vinci Single-Site system (competitor for bariatric and colorectal cases), standard laparoscopic tool sets with an additional assistant role, and labor cost offsets from assistant elimination. Quantify the staffing savings (typically 1 FTE per 4–6 cases/week) and factor that into ROI models. This frame forces Levita to justify premium pricing on clinical outcomes, not feature count.

2. Request a Pilot Program or Limited-Deploy Model

• As of May 2025, Levita remains in growth-stage commercialization. Many high-volume centers (academic medical centers, large ASCs) may qualify for discounted early-adopter pricing, extended trial periods (60–90 days), or outcome-sharing agreements. Ask Levita's VP of Hospital Sales for a custom pilot proposal.

3. Aggregate Demand Across Your System

• If your organization operates 3+ surgical centers, aggregate your MARS requirements into a single RFQ. Multi-unit purchases typically unlock 10–15% discounts compared to single-site pricing.

4. Negotiate Service Bundling

• Separate capital cost from 3–5-year service bundles. Request fixed-rate service (not percentage-of-cost) to reduce future unpredictability. Insist on remote diagnostics and 24-hour spare parts availability.

5. Lock in Consumable Pricing for 24 Months

• Magnetic grasper tips will be your largest recurring cost. Negotiate a per-unit cap or volume-tier pricing for the first 2 years to create budget certainty. Manufacturers often grant 5–8% volume discounts for 50+ units per year.

When the price feels off—red flags

Red Flag 1: Vendor Cannot Cite Comparable Facility Reference

• If Levita cannot provide at least two comparable-size hospitals or ASCs in your region that have already adopted MARS and can discuss true cost of ownership, demand a site visit or teleconference. Early-stage vendors often cannot provide references, suggesting limited market validation.

Red Flag 2: Pricing Excludes Training, Installation, or Extended Service

• A "system cost" of $500K–$2M that excludes 12 months of training, installation, and parts is incomplete. Ensure the final quote decomposes all costs into capital equipment, professional services, annual support, and consumables.

Red Flag 3: No Published FDA Clearance or Predicate Device Link

• Confirm that Levita can document the 510(k) clearance K-number (or De Novo path) and confirm it covers your intended procedure mix. The FDA expanded MARS indications in June 2025 to include bariatric and hiatal hernia repair, and the platform is FDA-cleared for gallbladder, bariatric, prostate, colorectal, and hiatal hernia procedures. If your institution performs pediatric cases, note that the Magnetic Surgical System is cleared for laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures in pediatric patients ages 12 and older within a BMI range of 20–34 kg/m². Mismatch between clearance scope and your planned use could create compliance risk.

Red Flag 4: Lack of Long-Term Service or Support Exit Plan

• Levita is a relatively young company (founded 2011, cleared 2023). If the vendor cannot articulate a 10-year spare parts and support commitment, or cannot name a secondary service provider, you risk operational stranding if the company pivots, consolidates, or ceases support. Request a service-level agreement (SLA) with contractual penalties for non-compliance.

Red Flag 5: Grasper Reliability or Failure Rates Undisclosed

• Ask for failure rate data on the magnetic grasper tip (detachment, loss of magnetic attraction, tissue damage). Levita should provide clinical data from the 1,000+ cases performed. Unexpectedly high grasper failure rates inflate consumable costs hidden until you are operational.

Sources

• Levita Magnetics official statement (FDA clearance & clinical indications). "MARS, when used with Levita's Magnetic Surgical System (MSS), is FDA-cleared for gallbladder, bariatric, prostate, colorectal, and hiatal hernia procedures." PRNewswire, June 2025; Levita.com, 2025.

• Clinical evidence of solo-surgeon use. Paramore, et al. "Solo surgeon ambulatory magnetic-assisted robotic surgery (MARS): initial 51 cases with high patient satisfaction." PMC / NCBI, 2024.

• FDA regulatory pathway. Levita Magnetics. FDA 510(k) Clearance Documentation, August 2023; Expanded Indication Clearance, June 2025.

• Procedure volume and adoption tracking. Levita Magnetics. "Levita Magnetics Celebrates 1,000 Surgeries with its FDA-Cleared MARS System." Levita.com, July 2025.

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Disclaimer: This article reflects publicly available information as of May 5, 2026. Manufacturer list prices, GSA schedule pricing, and detailed service-contract costs are proprietary and require direct quotation from Levita Magnetics (info@levita.com, 650-XXX-XXXX). MedSource will update pricing and source documents as institutional quotes are submitted and verified.