A Da Vinci robotic, on the left, working in sync with the Levita system on the correct. | Supply: Levita Magnetics
Surgical robotic procedures have gotten more and more extra commonplace each day. In 2022 alone, surgeons all over the world carried out 1.8 million robot-assisted procedures, in line with the Royal Faculty of Surgeons of England. Final month, Levita Magnetics Inc. introduced what it stated was a brand new breakthrough within the subject: For the primary time, surgeons accomplished a process utilizing two robots in tandem.
The process, a prostate-removal surgical procedure, used Levita’s MARS platform to maneuver inside organs utilizing its proprietary magnetic positioning system. Dr. Jeffrey Cadeddu on the College of Texas Southwestern Medical Heart mixed the MARS (magnetic-assisted robotic surgical procedure) system with Intuitive Surgical‘s Da Vinci SP (single-port) robotic.
Dr. Alberto Navarro-Rodriguez, the CEO and president of Levita Magnetics, stated the thought for the process got here from Cadeddu. It was an thrilling second for Navarro-Rodriguez, who based Levita after stopping his medical follow. He recalled that he hoped to create instruments that may empower surgeons to enhance affected person outcomes.
So, seeing surgeons take this method and innovate new methods to carry out procedures felt slightly unreal, he stated.
“That’s the great thing about working with world-renowned surgeons. They’ve concepts,” Navarro-Rodriguez instructed The Robotic Report. “You present the instruments, and so they discovered a approach of incorporating totally different applied sciences.”
Silicon Valley-based Levita Magnetics secured FDA 510(ok) clearance for its up to date MARS system in 2023. The firm‘s system consists of two surgeon-controlled robotic arms. One arm holds and operates the magnetic controller, whereas the opposite holds and controls an endoscope with a digital camera for visualization contained in the affected person.
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Contained in the landmark process
“We have been the primary on the earth to develop the magnetic idea; that’s our power,” asserted Navarro-Rodriguez. “However, after all, we’re open to collaboration, and that’s what we’re demonstrating right here. On the finish, our objective needs to be how we enhance outcomes for the affected person.”
Through the prostate removing process, the surgical group used Levita’s MARS platform to retract tissue throughout the affected person exactly. This will increase visualization, permitting the group to protect nerves concerned in sexual operate and urinary continence.
The neurovascular bundles accountable for erectile operate and urinary continence are situated adjoining to the prostate gland. Traditionally, surgeons have struggled to keep away from these bundles throughout prostate removing.
“Our objective is to enhance visualization,” Navarro-Rodriguez stated. “In the event you see higher, you are able to do a greater process, since you do higher dissections.”
The Da Vinci SP offered the single-port capabilities required for this advanced urological surgical procedure. The Intuitive Surgical robotic makes an incision in order that surgeons can get contained in the affected person and carry out a process. The MARS system permits the surgeons larger entry and visualization as soon as they’re contained in the physique, eradicating the boundaries that include single-port surgical procedure.
“We offer {our capability} of producing actions that you’re not capable of do with typical devices or typical robotics, as a result of we generate motion by the stomach wall,” famous Navarro-Rodriguez. “So what which means is the actions that you may generate are usually not constrained by your entry level.”
Surgeons leverage Levita’s know-how
Usually, the MARS system is used for frequent procedures which are carried out each day in excessive numbers, resembling gallbladder, bariatric, and colorectal procedures. With this dual-robot process, Levita stated it has demonstrated that MARS generally is a device for extra advanced procedures and enhance outcomes for sufferers.
“Magnetics permits you, as a surgeon, to offer a process with fewer incisions, since you generate motion utilizing magnets by the stomach wall, so that you don’t must make so many holes within the sufferers,” Navarro-Rodriguez stated.
Along with its less-invasive method, the MARS system can also be cheaper for hospitals, he added.
“Our robotic dimension is far leaner, it doesn’t use an enormous console,” stated Navarro-Rodriguez. “We give attention to how we are able to do the process higher, and that side for us is lowering the variety of incisions.”
With a a lot leaner robotic, the surgical system is extra accessible on a worldwide scale, he stated.
Levita Magnetics makes plans, considers collaborations
Navarro-Rodriguez stated Levita is “completely” enthusiastic about extra dual-robot surgical procedures.
“It’s very rewarding, figuring out that you simply’re offering a greater surgical procedure for a affected person, {that a} affected person may have a greater end result with this, and they’ll go house earlier with much less incision,” he stated.
Levita Magnetics can also be creating synthetic intelligence that would help in future procedures.
“We have now a really robust pipeline of AI that we are literally creating,” stated Navarro-Rodriguez. “I’m completely satisfied surgical procedure might be an autonomous process. Sooner or later, step-by-step, you’ll begin automating steps of the process.”
Usually, Levita’s objectives are to succeed in extra sufferers, create higher outcomes, and carry out surgical procedures sooner within the subsequent 12 months.
“Robotics are very cool, however we don’t must develop robots simply because it’s cool. It actually has to deliver worth to the affected person and to the healthcare system,” Navarro-Rodriguez stated.
