A surgical instrument developed by Corindus has been used in what is claimed to be the first remote-controlled heart operation using a robot.
Corindus published its “Telerobotic Intervention Study” in The Lancet, saying it is “the world’s first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures conducted from a remote location outside the catheterization lab using Corindus’ CorPath technology platform”.
The paper Corindus published, titled Long Distance Telerobotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: First-in-Human Experience, discusses five successful patient cases performed by internationally acclaimed physician Dr Tejas Patel, chairman and chief interventional cardiologist of the Apex Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
The five patients featured in the paper underwent elective PCI procedures from a distance of approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Dr Patel’s location inside the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
His partner, Dr Sanjay Shah, was onsite in the room with each patient at the Apex Heart Institute.
Dr Patel says: “I am honored to have been a part of this medical milestone.
“The application of telerobotics for remote treatment has the potential to impact a significant number of lives by providing access to specialized care that may not otherwise be possible.
“I am pleased to share my experience with the clinical community in such a well-respected publication that is part of the Lancet family.”
To improve patient outcomes and broaden access to high-level care, Corindus has pioneered the world’s first remote telerobotic interventional platform to deliver highly specialized and timely cardiovascular care to underserved patient populations with geographic barriers to treatment.
The company is working on product development to enable use of the CorPath System in remote interventions and expand the company’s robotic platform to address stroke care.
Mark Toland, president and CEO of Corindus Vascular Robotics, says: “Remote procedures have the potential to transform how we deliver care when treating the most time-sensitive illnesses such as heart attack and stroke.
“The success of this study paves the way for large-scale, long-distance telerobotic platforms across the globe, and its publication in Lancet’s EClinicalMedicine demonstrates the transformative nature of telerobotics.
“While remote robotic procedures are still in the early stages of development, it is clear we are on track to expand patients’ access to care, while reducing their time to treatment.”
