A group of surgeons from Dundee and the US have made an unprecedented medical breakthrough. It is because through the power of cutting-edge robotics, they achieved their first ever remote thrombectomy. Led by Professor Iris Grunwald, the team completed the ground-breaking procedure on a human cadaver. She made use of robotics from Sentante, a major leap forward in the treatment of patients who have suffered a stroke.
Last month, an ambitious experiment got underway. It demonstrated that the robotic system was able to interface with the identical catheters and wires that surgeons would use in their hands. This capability further unlocks the possibilities of remote surgical procedures, where doctors and medical professionals would not even be physically present during a procedure. Notably, neurosurgeon Ricardo Hanel, stationed in Florida, performed the first transatlantic surgery from over 4,000 miles away, showcasing the potential of this technology for global healthcare.
Thrombectomy, a time-sensitive procedure that removes blood clots after a stroke, is woefully under-utilized across the UK. The statistics show that last year just 2.2% of stroke patients in the UK were given this life-saving treatment. In Scotland, access is limited to just three hospitals: Dundee, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. The numbers are indeed shocking. In the year prior to March 2024—and in clear contrast to the rest of the UK—only 3.9% of all stroke patients in NI received a thrombectomy.
Prof. Grunwald said she was hopeful about the implications of this technology for more equitable access to acute stroke treatment. She emphasized that remote surgery could “rebalance the inequity which exists in stroke treatment across the UK.” Further elaborating on the urgency of timely treatment, she noted, “Every six minutes delay, you have a 1% less chance of having a good outcome.”
Their unique remote surgical capability keeps patients in their local hospital operating rooms. At the same time, master surgeons around the world are able to perform surgery remotely using the Sentante machine. Such a groundbreaking model may drastically reduce the length of time before patients receive lifesaving care. It’ll be a boon for people living in rural and remote communities, who have historically had a tougher time accessing thrombectomy services.
Juliet Bouverie, chief executive of the Stroke Association charity, underlined the significance of this announcement for neglected communities. She stated, “For too long, people living in remote and rural areas have been deprived of access to thrombectomy.” The benefits realized through this innovative endeavor would help upturn that trend line — opening doors to critical stroke treatment, far and wide.
Edvardas Satkauskas, CEO of Sentante, shared his excitement about the project’s success: “It feels amazing.” He painted a hopeful vision for the ways in which this technology could improve patient outcomes and accessibility to care.
With Prof. Grunwald and Hanel at the helm, the team is getting ready to enter into clinical trials next year. They hope to expand the use of robotic assistance in thrombectomy procedures. And she’s already received accolades for her groundbreaking work in robotics and artificial intelligence. She was awarded an Innovate UK award for entrepreneurship and is now vice president of the World Federation for Interventional Stroke Treatment.
The pulse of innovations and change in medical technology has only accelerated. Partnerships such as the one between Dundee and Florida demonstrate how innovative, creative solutions are taking root to address pressing healthcare challenges. AI-powered robotics will revolutionize surgical operations in the future, improving effectiveness. If successful, this innovation will expand access to timely stroke treatment for all patients, regardless of where they live.
“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.” – Prof. Iris Grunwald