Robots are used in a variety of surgical procedures these days, but the brain has largely been a no-go zone for robotic assistants in the OR. With the successful completion of a human-robot-assisted neurovascular procedure this month, that is set to change.
The surgery was led by Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, a neurosurgeon and neuroradiologist at Toronto Western Hospital and the Krembil Brain Institute in Canada. Dr. Pereira's team used a vascular robotic device developed by Corindus.
“The field of neurovascular intervention is rapidly changing, but there remains a significant need to expand access to care and reduce treatment times,” said Mark Toland, CEO of Corindus. “Implementing robotic capability for neurovascular intervention is the first step toward vision of providing patients with access to the best specialists in the world regardless of geographic location. Building a body of clinical research in neurovascular robotics while training robotics specialists today will allow us to maximize the physician’s impact and reach the remote telerobotics of tomorrow.”
The operation is a good example of how a confluence of new technologies is changing how surgeons approach their craft. Before the procedure, Dr. Pereira rehearsed on a 3D flow model of the patient’s specific anatomy, a 64-year-old Canadian citizen. Using the 3D model, Dr. Pereira developed a plan for using the robotic device.
“Precision is a key element of neurovascular procedures, and it is clear that augmenting these delicate procedures with robotic assistance can positively impact the way patients are treated,” said Dr. Pereira. “It was an honor to perform this procedure and I look forward to continuing to support the development of robotic technology to help address the access issues of stroke patients in the community.”
The robotics company behind the process, Corindus, is less than a week away from a $1.1 billion acquisition by Siemens.
The implications for this robot brain surgery are huge, suggesting a transformation in the way surgeons treat things like aneurysms and strokes. This will be especially true when 5G becomes a reality, opening up the possibility that surgeons will be able to operate these robots remotely, potentially offering unprecedented access to care worldwide. Corindus has already completed several remote cardiac procedures and has published clinical studies.
The recent acquisition by Siemens, a major player in the medical device, will allow Corindus to accelerate the development of its robotic technology to address the existing problem of access to care for emerging procedures such as heart attack and stroke.
