A Da Vinci robotic, on the left, working in sync with the Levita system on the proper. | Supply: Levita Magnetics
Surgical robotic procedures have gotten more and more extra commonplace daily. In 2022 alone, surgeons world wide carried out 1.8 million robot-assisted procedures, in accordance with the Royal School of Surgeons of England. Final month, Levita Magnetics Inc. introduced what it mentioned was a brand new breakthrough within the discipline: 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, mentioned 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 will empower surgeons to enhance affected person outcomes.
So, seeing surgeons take this technique and innovate new methods to carry out procedures felt slightly unreal, he mentioned.
“That’s the great thing about working with world-renowned surgeons. They’ve concepts,” Navarro-Rodriguez informed The Robotic Report. “You present the instruments, they usually discovered a approach of incorporating completely 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 contains 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 had been the primary on the planet 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 aim must be how we enhance outcomes for the affected person.”
Throughout the prostate removing process, the surgical crew used Levita’s MARS platform to retract tissue throughout the affected person exactly. This will increase visualization, permitting the crew to protect nerves concerned in sexual operate and urinary continence.
The neurovascular bundles answerable for erectile operate and urinary continence are positioned adjoining to the prostate gland. Traditionally, surgeons have struggled to keep away from these bundles throughout prostate removing.
“Our aim is to enhance visualization,” Navarro-Rodriguez mentioned. “In case you see higher, you are able to do a greater process, since you do higher dissections.”
The Da Vinci SP supplied the single-port capabilities required for this complicated 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 better entry and visualization as soon as they’re contained in the physique, eradicating the bounds that include single-port surgical procedure.
“We offer {our capability} of producing actions that you’re not in a position to do with standard devices or standard robotics, as a result of we generate motion by the belly wall,” famous Navarro-Rodriguez. “So what which means is the actions that you may generate aren’t constrained by your entry level.”
Surgeons leverage Levita’s expertise
Usually, the MARS system is used for widespread procedures which can be carried out daily in excessive numbers, comparable to gallbladder, bariatric, and colorectal procedures. With this dual-robot process, Levita mentioned it has demonstrated that MARS generally is a software for extra complicated procedures and enhance outcomes for sufferers.
“Magnetics allows you, as a surgeon, to supply a process with fewer incisions, since you generate motion utilizing magnets by the belly wall, so that you don’t must make so many holes within the sufferers,” Navarro-Rodriguez mentioned.
Along with its less-invasive approach, the MARS system can also be inexpensive for hospitals, he added.
“Our robotic dimension is far leaner, it doesn’t use an enormous console,” mentioned Navarro-Rodriguez. “We concentrate on how we are able to do the process higher, and that facet for us is decreasing the variety of incisions.”
With a a lot leaner robotic, the surgical system is extra accessible on a worldwide scale, he mentioned.
Levita Magnetics makes plans, considers collaborations
Navarro-Rodriguez mentioned Levita is “completely” concerned with extra dual-robot surgical procedures.
“It’s very rewarding, understanding that you just’re offering a greater surgical procedure for a affected person, {that a} affected person may have a greater final result with this, and they’re going to go house earlier with much less incision,” he mentioned.
Levita Magnetics can also be creating synthetic intelligence that might assist in future procedures.
“We have now a really robust pipeline of AI that we are literally creating,” mentioned Navarro-Rodriguez. “I’m completely satisfied surgical procedure will probably 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 carry worth to the affected person and to the healthcare system,” Navarro-Rodriguez mentioned.
