By Nick Gilbert
Mazor Robotics, a manufacturer of advanced surgical robots and related products, has successfully concluded the first robot-guided surgical procedures in the brain using Mazor Robotics’ technology. Prof. Robert Schönmayr and Dr. In-Se Kim, neurosurgeons at Horst Schmidt Kliniken (HSK) Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, performed the surgical procedures for the first three cases.
Prof. Schönmayr stated that the HSK Hospital is one of the first hospices in the world to use robotic technology for spine procedures. The hospital is also the first to apply the robotic technology to perform brain surgeries.
Dr. Kim added that the extent of application of robotic technology in brain and spine procedures is tremendous. Kim further stated that the clinical success of robotic technology is evident from their patients.
In addition to spine surgery applications, Mazor Robotics’ technology is also suitable for shunt placements, brain biopsies and neurostimulation electrode placement like deep brain stimulation (DBS). This technology is precise, simple and safe to use, and offers a frameless treatment option for brain surgeries, thereby increasing patients’ comfort, improving surgical accuracy, providing a non-invasive approach and increasing the use of the installed base.
The CEO of Mazor Robotics, Ori Hadomi said that the company is excited about the expansion of the robotic technology to other surgical procedures besides spine surgery, which happens to be the company’s main focus. Brain surgeries have a huge market opportunity that is in line with the company’s present focus on spine. Nearly half of the surgeons who utilize Mazor’s SpineAssist and Renaissance robots for spine operations are neurosurgeons.
Regulatory approval for brain surgery application is yet to be approved in Europe and the U.S. Once the application is approved, it will be offered as an add-on to Renaissance system.
Source: http://www.mazorrobotics.com/