The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail

Medtronic: Mazor X robots could fall on patients during surgery

By Nancy Crotti | January 8, 2020

Medtronic Mazor X

Medtronic Mazor X. | Credit: Medtronic

Medtronic said today some of its Mazor X surgical robotic systems could detach and fall onto the OR table, potentially injuring a patient.

The problem affects Mazor X systems with positioner Type II, the company said in an urgent field safety notice (PDF) issued in the U.K. It wasn’t immediately clear if the problem that causes the system to detach affects units distributed elsewhere. No injuries have been reported, although Medtronic said it has received seven complaints of this issue occurring since Nov. 13, 2019. Possible injuries might include hemorrhage, hematoma, bleeding or fracture(s), the company said.

In the field notice, Medtronic described the problem as following:

“During pre-operative preparation, the Mazor X surgical system is raised and mounted over the OR table with the aid of the manipulator, which is the on-board automated lifting mechanism. This enables raising of the surgical system over the OR table and mounting it onto the bed frame. The positioner provides a mechanism for rigid locking of the surgical system on the OR table, after disconnecting it from the manipulator.

“Medtronic is aware of instances where the Mazor X positioner Type II has unexpectedly released from the OR table after being securely attached. Investigation has determined that the occurrences are due to the potential for slight air leakage over time within the pneumatic system resulting in a gradual decrease in the positioner Type II latching device holding force. After time, this can result in the surgical system to release from the bed frame.”

In a separate statement to our sister publication MassDevice, the company described Mazor X as indicated for precise positioning of surgical instruments during general spinal surgery.

“In December of 2019, Medtronic initiated a medical device correction related to the Mazor X surgical system,” company spokesman David Young said in an email. “Medtronic received complaints — none of which involved patient injuries — of the surgical system having issues maintaining a rigid connection to the operating room table. This could result in the surgical system slowly descending toward the user or patient.”

Read the full story at our sister publication MassDevice.

Comments

  1. Dave says

    June 7, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    Good to know! Wont be using that system!

    Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles Read More >

memic
Memic completes first U.S. cases with Hominis Surgical System
Ekso Bionics exoskeleton cleared for use with MS patients
moon surgical
Moon Surgical raises $31.3M for robotic surgery system
ElliQ
Intuition Robotics partners with NY State Office for the Aging

2021 Robotics Handbook

The Robot Report Listing Database

Latest Robotics News

Robot Report Podcast

Brian Gerkey from Open Robotics discusses the development of ROS
See More >

Sponsored Content

  • Magnetic encoders support the stabilization control of a self-balancing two-wheeled robotic vehicle
  • How to best choose your AGV’s Wheel Drive provider
  • Meet Trey, the autonomous trailer (un)loading forklift
  • Kinova Robotics launches Link 6, the first Canadian industrial collaborative robot
  • Torque sensors help make human/robot collaborations safer for workers

RBR50 Innovation Awards

Leave us a voicemail

The Robot Report
  • Mobile Robot Guide
  • Collaborative Robotics Trends
  • Field Robotics Forum
  • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
  • RoboBusiness Event
  • Robotics Business Review
  • Robotics Summit & Expo
  • About The Robot Report
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search The Robot Report

  • Home
  • News
  • Technologies
    • Batteries / Power Supplies
    • Cameras / Imaging / Vision
    • Controllers
    • End Effectors
    • Microprocessors / SoCs
    • Motion Control
    • Sensors
    • Soft Robotics
    • Software / Simulation
  • Development
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Human Robot Interaction / Haptics
    • Mobility / Navigation
    • Research
  • Robots
    • AGVs
    • AMRs
    • Consumer
    • Collaborative Robots
    • Drones
    • Exoskeletons
    • Industrial
    • Self-Driving Vehicles
    • Unmanned Maritime Systems
  • Markets
    • Agriculture
    • Healthcare
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Mining
    • Security
  • Financial
    • Investments
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Earnings
  • Resources
    • Careers
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Issues
    • Publications
      • Collaborative Robotics Trends
      • Robotics Business Review
    • RBR50 Winners 2022
    • Search Robotics Database
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
  • Events
    • RoboBusiness
    • Robotics Summit & Expo
    • Healthcare Robotics Engineering Forum
    • DeviceTalks
    • R&D 100
    • Robotics Weeks
  • Podcast
    • Episodes
    • Leave a voicemail