XCath Reports 1st Telerobotic Stroke Procedure with Iris Robot

XCath, a neuro-endovascular surgical robotics company, revealed successful completion of the world’s first telerobotic stroke procedure in a clinical investigation named Operation Robo Angel.

The remote robotic mechanical thrombectomy was done using the XCath Iris surgical robotic system by neurosurgeon Vitor Mendes Pereira, M.D. in Clinica Norte in Santiago, Panama, over 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the patient in Panama City. Local neurosurgeon, Anastasio Ameijeiras Sibauste, M.D. and robotic technologist Nicole Cancelliere were with the patient at The Panama Clinic.

The company said the Iris system showed precision in navigating and delivering therapeutic devices over a long-distance connection. There was also no perceptible latency during the successful mechanical thrombectomy procedure.

“The world’s first telerobotic neurosurgery was made possible by an exceptional team working alongside more than 60 physicians across five hospitals, all united around a single priority: patients,” said Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of XCath. “The true legacy of this moment will be measured in the millions of lives that could be saved each year as stroke treatment reaches patients who today have no access to it.”

Using the Iris system, the remote operator robotically navigated therapeutic devices through the intracranial vasculature to the occlusion site. Mechanical thrombectomy was done with a combined technique using a stent retriever and balloon occlusion with dial aspiration. The clot was successfully removed on the first path, achieving complete reperfusion with a modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) score of 3 once the procedure was concluded.

The patient was evaluated after the surgical procedure and showed improvement in both general condition and neurological functions. At 24 hours, the patient continued to progress, with a score of 2 on the NIHSS. The patient is expected to make a complete recovery.

“XCath has accomplished what no other company has achieved in stroke care: a successful remote robotic mechanical thrombectomy delivering lifesaving treatment to a patient that would have otherwise not been able to receive treatment. It was a privilege to be present in this historic moment,” said Dr. Fred Moll, chairman of XCath. “I believe that the XCath system will help create a new standard of care for stroke patients around the world.”