The Methodist Hospital from Houston, Texas has purchased a preclinical vascular robotic system from Hansen Medical that specialises in flexible catheter robotics to conduct preclinical endovascular research.
The vascular robotic system employs the Sensei-X Robotic Catheter System which is now being sold in Europe and in the US. Under this system, the distal tips of the inner leader catheter and outer sheath can be individually controlled robotically. The standard guidewires can also be controlled robotically. The vascular robotic system can be subsequently used with most 6F therapeutic devices that are presently available in the market.
In 2010, around 20 endovascular procedures have been successfully completed through the use of a previous version of the vascular robotic system. Hansen Medical has received CE approval for another vascular robotic system called Magellan Robotic System and NorthStar Robotic Catheter. US FDA approval for Magellan Robotic System is presently pending in the US. According to Dr. Alan Lumsden who is the Chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and Medical Director of Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Centre for the Methodist Hospital, the vascular robotic system is an addition to its existing line of three Sensei systems and this will help the hospital to achieve a better position in terms of research, clinical activity and education.
Source: http://www.hansenmedical.com