Levita Magnetics, a trailblazer in surgical innovation, has announced a ground-breaking milestone: its MARS platform was instrumental in performing the world's first AI-guided autonomous gall bladder surgery in Santiago, Chile.
The landmark case at Clínica Las Condes, a premium private centre in Latin America, spotlights the Silicon Valley company's role in global surgical innovation.
Alberto Rodriguez Navarro, MD, Founder and CEO of Levita Magnetics, said: ‘It demonstrates how far magnetic-assisted surgery has come and where it is headed.’
‘By integrating artificial intelligence into the MARS platform, we are delivering the first true step toward surgical autonomy, changing how complex procedures are performed and how patients experience surgery.’
The MARS platform integrates precision, magnetic technology, and artificial intelligence to guide the surgical camera throughout this complex procedure autonomously.
By reducing manual camera control, the AI-guided MARS system enhances stability.
It provides surgeons with a clearer, uninterrupted field of vision, which is critical in high-volume operations such as cholecystectomy surgery. In this case, the MARS was used, incorporating a latest-generation Stryker 1788 4K camera, providing enhanced visualisation of the surgical field.
Dr Vip Patel, founder and Medical Director of AdventHealth's Global Robotics Institute and founder of the Society of Robotic Surgery, said: ‘The incorporation of AI into robotic systems is the next frontier in the ever-evolving world of surgical technology and education. This initial experience provides optimism for the near future.’
Minimally invasive surgery has always depended on precise visualisation. Traditionally, this required a camera assistant to adjust angles manually at the surgeon’s request.
The MARS system advanced this by giving surgeons direct control of the camera. With the introduction of AI, MARS now takes another step forward – the AI autonomously maintains perfect visualisation of the surgical field, ensuring uninterrupted focus, steadier imaging, and a more efficient workflow in the operating room.
Dr Ricardo Funke, Chief of Surgery at Clínica Las Condes in Santiago, said: ‘With the MARS system, I already have direct control of the camera without relying on a first assistant. Now, with AI, the system can automatically keep my instruments in view.
‘That autonomy gives me a stable, precise field of vision and allows me to focus entirely on the surgery itself. Looking ahead, this kind of autonomy has the potential to save time in the operating room, reduce staffing needs, and ultimately lower costs for hospitals while improving patient outcomes.’
