Sentante, a Lithuanian robotics company, has made a significant macro news headline. Immediately, they were able to apply their new technology in a thriving stroke procedure — a world-first collaboration. This historic surgery took place on a human patient in Dundee, Scotland, while the surgeon operated remotely from Jacksonville, Florida, over 4,000 miles away. Sentante’s state-of-the-art robotics make complicated medical procedures commonplace. Thanks to modern innovation, physicians are capable of executing complex procedures from almost anywhere — including the luxuries of their homes.
Edvardas Satkauskas, the CEO of Sentante, said he felt proud seeing his technology used in real action. He went on to note the significance of this accomplishment for the company. It’s opening the door for what the future of medicine could look like.
“Sometimes, the future is way closer than we think.” – Edvardas Satkauskas
Sentante’s technology is intended to enable more accurate and consistent movement of wires and catheters in life-saving procedures. In real-time, it automatically documents the surgeon’s actions while delivering pulse-live X-ray imaging and monitoring. This ability is especially key in stroke care, where every second counts. According to some research, each six-minute delay reduces the odds of a successful outcome by about one percent.
Demonstration of the thrombectomy procedure, designed to evacuate clots from a blood vessel, performed on Sentante’s robotics. Surgeons can now address patients’ needs more efficiently, potentially transforming access to stroke treatment for individuals living in remote or rural areas.
Prof. Grunwald has been a long-time champion for enhancing stroke care. He emphasized the positive potential of this technology to bring fairer outcomes across the UK. He noted that thousands of people have been denied access to timely thrombectomy care by geographical restrictions.
“For too long, people living in remote and rural areas have been deprived of access to thrombectomy,” – Prof Grunwald
He added if implemented, this technological breakthrough would democratize access to expert stroke treatment.
“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 Grunwald
UK-based Stroke Association charity praised the transatlantic approach as “an extraordinary breakthrough.” They brought in the personal story to illustrate just how much this new technology stands to revolutionize stroke care across the country.
Sentante’s robotic systems are currently under active development. The prospect of delivering regulatory approval for patient use is getting near. If approved, this technology may fundamentally reshape stroke treatment protocols and provide timely interventions for patients who need it most.
“Robotics like this could rebalance the inequity which exists in stroke treatment across the UK,” – Prof Grunwald