Use of Flexible Robotics Reduces Trauma in Vascular Surgery

Newswise — Research conducted by surgeons from the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center shows that using robotics reduces blood vessel trauma during minimally invasive procedures to repair diseased arteries. Research results were presented at the Society for Vascular Surgery‘s 2010 Vascular Annual Meeting in Boston.

“When we manipulate a catheter through a diseased artery using the standard manual approach, the catheter follows along the walls of the artery. This movement can dislodge plaque into the bloodstream, where it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke or damage other organs like the kidneys,” said Dr. Jean Bismuth, vascular surgeon at Methodist and principal investigator for the study. “We have shown that using robotics significantly reduces this risk because we can navigate precisely down the center of the vessel, avoiding contact with the walls of the artery.”

The research also showed a reduction in the time it takes to access a vessel, which translates into less radiation exposure for the patient and the surgeon, and the potential to standardize catheter navigation, which may lead to more predictable procedures.

“At Methodist we have been using the Hansen Medical robot to safely and successfully conduct minimally invasive treatments for atrial fibrillation, with Dr. Miguel Valderrabano leading this effort. This new research into robotic vascular therapies is early, but it may help open up higher levels of safety for treating our patients with ischemic vascular and cardiac disease, as well,” said Dr. Alan Lumsden, chair of the department of cardiovascular surgery at The Methodist Hospital and co-investigator on the study.

About the studyThe pre-clinical in-vivo study used an investigational robotic catheter made by Hansen Medical. The study endpoint was safe cannulation (insertion of a catheter into a branch vessel) and deployment of balloon and stent in the contralateral superficial femoral artery, the renal artery and the mesenteric arteries. Safety was evaluated through gross visual examination and histopathology of target vessels, and angiographic evidence of trauma.

The study featured the use of a new, smaller vascular robotic catheter made by Hansen Medical, which incorporates a removable diagnostic catheter inside of a 6 French (1 French = 1/3 mm) robotically shapeable sheath for delivery of therapeutic devices.

Specifically, a single vascular catheter was able to successfully navigate the aorta and access several primary and secondary branches.

Additionally, three stents were successfully delivered through the 6 French robotic sheath in several target vessels.

For more information on the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, see www.debakeyheartcenter.com. For more information on The Methodist Hospital, see www.methodisthealth.com. Follow Methodist on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MethodistHosp and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/methodisthospital.