Levita Magnetics said it has raised $26 million to fund regulatory and commercial progress on its Magnetic-Assisted Robotic Surgery (MARS) platform. The Menlo Park, California-based robotic surgery system developer also appointed Maria Sainz as chair of its board of directors. The MARS platform is designed to help surgeons perform more high-volume abdominal procedures using fewer incisions and less personnel. Levita won FDA de novo classification for its Levita Magnetic Surgical System in 2015. That handheld device uses a magnet placed outside of a patient's abdomen to control a magnetic grasper inside the body during surgery, requiring only one incision instead of two.

For years, the retail industry has been talking about the rise of mobile and how it may disrupt everything. But according to a new report released today by App Annie -- an app analytics and market intelligence company -- the future is already here. Mobile, especially in the U.S., has already taken over. Looking at both online-first and "bricks-and-clicks" retailers, the study shows that, while mobile is affecting everyone, the U.S. is apparently leading the way. "Most surprising is how well U.S. bricks-and-clicks retailers are doing relative to others outside of the U.S.," Danielle Levitas, SVP of research and marketing communications at App Annie, told me.