Dual-robot surgery successfully removes human prostate

While surgical robotic procedures are becoming increasingly commonplace, they’re still often relegated to simple procedures. Levita Magnetics, with the help of Intuitive Surgical, is tackling more complicated procedures by having two robots work in tandem.

The procedure, a prostate-removal surgery, used Levita’s MARS (magnetic-assisted robotic surgery) platform to maneuver internal organs. Dr. Jeffrey Cadeddu at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center combined the proprietary magnetic positioning system with Intuitive Surgical‘s Da Vinci SP (single-port) robot.

During the prostate-removal procedure, the surgical team used the MARS platform to retract tissue within the patient precisely. This increases visualization, allowing the team to preserve nerves.

The neurovascular bundles responsible for erectile function and urinary continence are next to the prostate gland. Historically, surgeons have struggled to avoid these bundles during prostate removal.

The Da Vinci SP provided the capabilities required for this complex urological surgery. The Intuitive Surgical robot makes an incision so that surgeons can get inside the patient and perform a procedure. The MARS system allows the surgeons greater access and visualization once they’re inside the body, removing the limits that come with single-port surgery.

The MARS system is typically used for common procedures that are performed everyday in high numbers, such as gallbladder, bariatric, and colorectal procedures. With this dual-robot approach, the company has demonstrated that MARS can be a tool for more complex procedures and improve outcomes for patients.

MARS isn’t just less invasive than other surgical methods; it’s also less expensive than the typical surgical robot, noted Mountain View, Calif.-based Levita Magnetics. This means it’s more accessible on a global scale.

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