Sentante, a medical robotics company headquartered in Lithuania, recently announced a significant accomplishment dubbed an industry first. In fact, they’ve already perfected the art of remote stroke surgery. This innovative procedure, performed by neurosurgeons across the Atlantic, demonstrates a significant leap in medical capabilities and offers hope for patients in underserved areas.
On a fantastic day in Dundee, Scotland, Sentante’s advanced robot, Tiberius, hit the record books. It made possible a historic transatlantic surgery performed by neurosurgeon Ricardo Hanel, who is now largely based in Jacksonville, Florida. The operation took place over 4,000 miles from the patient’s location. This amazing distance speaks to the strength of remote medical intervention.
The surgery utilized Sentante’s cutting-edge technology, which allows doctors to perform procedures from afar by replicating their movements through robotic arms. This system attaches to the same catheters and wires that are routinely used in conventional surgeries. It facilitates a fully integrated process on site, delivering real-time X-ray imaging and progress monitoring.
Iris Grunwald, that first tested this innovative remote thrombectomy on a human cadaver. Her art practice proved the technology would work outside of the lab, in practical, real-world applications. With only 20 minutes of training on the new equipment, Professor Grunwald was soon performing the procedure with expert precision. He consistently handled its complexities with brilliant deftness.
Sentante’s CEO, Edvardas Satkauskas, shared his excitement about the developments made possible through this technology, referring to it as “amazing.” The implications for stroke treatment are indeed staggering, especially in areas of the world where highly specialized care may not be readily available.
“In the UK, only 3.9% of all stroke patients received a thrombectomy in the year to March 2024,” reported healthcare analysts. Scotland patients find themselves without ready access to lifesaving therapies. Currently, only three hospitals – Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh – have the capacity to deliver thrombectomies. This inequity has deprived countless people of much needed access to life-saving surgery.
Now the Stroke Association charity have applauded Sentante’s innovation, describing it as “such a remarkable innovation.” They paid tribute to its ability to increase equality in stroke care throughout the UK. Juliet Bouverie from the pan-disability charity described the situation as urgent and focused on the need for equitable access. “For too long, people living in remote and rural areas have been deprived of access to thrombectomy,” she stated.
As Professor Grunwald explained, one of the most important factors for stroke patients is timely intervention. “Every six minutes delay, you have a 1% less chance of having a good outcome,” she explained. The technology developed by Sentante could significantly alter this trajectory, potentially making expert stroke treatment available to everyone regardless of their geographical location.
“This technology would now provide a new way where you’re not depending on where you live, saving the valuable minutes where your brain is otherwise dying,” Professor Grunwald added.
Healthcare systems across the globe are grappling with a lack of specialists able to provide thrombectomies. Sentante’s innovations offer a compelling answer to this acute crisis. As those human resources become increasingly stretched, remote surgeries help alleviate burden on existing medical providers. They further expand access to promising treatments to reach underserved communities.