Phoenix Children’s Hospital to deploy Medtronic neurosurgery robot

Phoenix Children’s Hospital today announced it will be the first health system in the U.S. to receive and deploy the newly FDA-cleared Medtronic Stealth Autoguide platform to perform robotic neurosurgery on pediatric patients.

The platform will be used with Medtronic’s StealthStation system at the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) at Phoenix Children’s, with procedures expected to occur later this month.

The Medtronic Stealth Autoguide is designed for accurate positioning of instruments that support several neurological procedures, including stereoelectroencephalographies (sEEG), biopsies, and Visualase procedures, Medtronic said. The system includes advanced software, navigation and instrumentation to enable accuracy during surgical procedures.

“The Stealth Autoguide is a tremendous addition to the neurosurgical team’s tools at Phoenix Children’s,” said P. David Adelson, division chief of Neurosurgery and director of BNI at Phoenix Children’s. “Neurosurgery is such an intricate specialty, and having this technology at our fingertips perfectly aligns with our mission to provide state-of-the-art care to improve the health and quality of life for the children we see here.”

Funding for the platform was provided by community partners, including the Del E. Webb Foundation, Thunderbirds Charities, and WINGS, the women’s auxiliary board of Phoenix Children’s, said Steve Schnall, senior vice president at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“Phoenix Children’s is proud to invest in the best possible technology for use while we provide outstanding care to children,” added Daniel Ostlie, M.D., surgeon in chief and chair of surgery at Phoenix Children’s. “We are committed to being at the forefront of surgical innovation and having the most advanced solutions for pediatric patients.”

Earlier this month, Medtronic said 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. It wasn’t immediately clear if the problem that causes the system to detach affects units distributed elsewhere. No injuries were been reported at the time, 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.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Medtronic is among the world’s largest medical technology, services, and solutions companies. The company employs more than 90,000 people worldwide, and serves physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries.