Surgeons from Dundee, Scotland, and Jacksonville, Florida, have achieved a world-first in stroke treatment utilizing advanced robotic technology developed by Sentante. This cutting-edge procedure is a significant step forward in the development of remote medical interventions. This means that in almost every case, expert stroke care is now able to extend its reach to patients irrespective of their geographic location.
Top, left to right: Prof. Iris Grunwald and Dr. Ricardo Hanel, during a thrombectomy procedure on a Dundee patient. At the same time, Dr. Hanel masterfully controlled the robotic system from more than 4,000 miles away in Jacksonville, Florida. This unprecedented collaboration exemplifies how innovative technology can bridge distances in medical care, enabling specialists to perform complex procedures remotely.
Sentante’s robotic thrombectomy technology allows providers to monitor and record the entire procedure in real time with live X-rays. This capability will enable surgeons to gauge their progress in real time. This ability is especially important in stroke care where time is of the essence for intervention. Prof. Grunwald emphasized the importance of rapid action during such procedures, stating, “Every six minutes delay, you have a 1% less chance of having a good outcome.”
As seen in this test, surgeons were able to practice on four different cadavers with real human blood. This arrangement provided an immersive atmosphere where they could hone their craft without fear of failure. Astonishingly, all it took was 20 minutes of training for Dr. Hanel to efficiently navigate Sentante’s technology. This impressive ease of use portends that many more healthcare providers can be trained to carry out parallel procedures moving forward.
Full-scale deployment of technologies like these would increase the availability of thrombectomy services throughout the UK, says Prof. Grunwald. Right now, only three places—Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh—provide these vital procedures, creating deep inequalities in access to stroke care. That’s just 3.9% of stroke patients in the UK who had a thrombectomy in the last full year up to March 2024.
“Robotics like this could rebalance the inequity which exists in stroke treatment across the UK,” – Prof. Iris Grunwald
The possibilities for Sentante’s technology goes further than the limits of land borders. Prof. Grunwald noted that “for too long, people living in remote and rural areas have been deprived of access to thrombectomy.” Furthermore, by allowing experts to work from almost anywhere, this technology has the potential to bring life-saving treatments to more remote and underfunded communities.
Dr. Hanel expressed his astonishment at the operational capabilities of the technology: “To operate from the US to Scotland with a 120 millisecond lag—a blink of an eye—is truly remarkable.” Such efficiency only deepens the promise of performing remote surgeries on a larger, global scale.
The team is looking forward to what’s next as they hope to enter clinical trials leveraging Sentante’s technology as early as next year. Prof. Grunwald deserves to be celebrated for her tremendous influence through her pioneering work. Most recently, she was awarded an innovator’s grant from Innovate UK in recognition of her work to drive advances in innovative stroke care.
“Sometimes, the future is way closer than we think,” – Edvardas Satkauskas