A breakthrough in robotic telesurgery is paving the way for faster, life-saving treatment for stroke patients.
Researchers and developers at the Miami-based Navigantis are advancing robotics to perform critical neurovascular procedures, such as mechanical thrombectomy (MT), considered the gold standard for treating acute ischemic stroke.
Timeliness is essential when performing MT, as the chances of patient recovery decrease significantly with each passing hour.
Patients treated within two hours of stroke symptom onset have a 90% chance of regaining independence. However, this drops sharply to just 30% by the six-hour mark.
The shortage of trained neuro-interventionalists worldwide further exacerbates the challenge of timely treatment.
The new robotic system, VASCO, is currently in clinical trials and offers hope to overcome these limitations.
By enabling highly precise robotic-assisted procedures, VASCO could revolutionise how ischemic stroke and other neurovascular conditions are treated.
Navigantis has already achieved a significant milestone by completing initial clinical procedures using the VASCO surgical robot.
These include diagnostic cerebral angiograms, brain tumour embolisation and mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke.
While the system is still investigational and not yet approved for commercial use, it represents a critical step toward enabling robotic telesurgery, especially in remote areas with limited access to skilled specialists.
Robotics also offers another significant advantage: reduced radiation exposure for healthcare providers during fluoroscopy-guided procedures.
This addresses a growing concern as endovascular procedures become more common.
More Dayan, CEO of Navigantis, highlighted the significance of this innovation.
‘The VASCO robotic platform has the potential to redefine how we approach the most complex and time-sensitive neurovascular procedures, ultimately improving both patient outcomes and procedural efficiencies. This is one of the first steps towards enabling robotic telesurgery for stroke patients, which could dramatically reduce response times and enhance access to timely critical care.’
This development builds on Navigantis’ earlier success with robotic embolisation of liver tumours and signals a promising future for stroke treatment.
By pushing the boundaries of robotics, Navigantis aims to improve patient care and bridge gaps in healthcare accessibility, potentially saving thousands of lives annually.
Photo caption - Mor Dayan, co-founder and CEO at the Society of Robotic Surgery | SRS in Orlando
