First Remote Heart Operation Carried Out Using a Robotic Arm

A pioneering robotics system has been used for the first time worldwide in a heart rhythm-treatment procedure conducted from a remote control center in a catherization lab.

André Ng, M.D., a senior lecturer in cardiovascular sciences at the University of Leicester (United Kingdomk) and a consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at University Hospitals of Leicester Glenfield Hospital (United Kingdom), is the first person in the world to carry out a cardiac procedure remotely on a patient, using the Remote Catheter Manipulation System (RCMS).


The RCMS allows clinicians to load a catheter into the device, and then maneuver and control it using remote control access, allowing them to work in the control center of catherization lab in closer proximity to the system monitors used to guide modern catheterizations. The operators are thus outside the radiation zone, and do not need to wear the heavy lead vest needed for these procedures. In addition, they can sit in front of the EP monitors and X-ray images, giving the physician greater accuracy in making very fine adjustments when passing and situating catheters in the heart's venous system. The system uses standard electrophysiology study (EPS) catheters, which can be dismounted and remounted with ease. The RCMS is a product of Catheter Robotics (Budd Lake, NJ, USA), and has received the European Community (CE) Marking.

"The novelty and unique feature of this system is that we can use standard EP catheters that all clinicians are familiar with, and that's a bonus because we know exactly how these catheters behave inside the body,” said Dr. Ng. "Once we've inserted the catheter into the body and into the heart, we can then hand over the catheter to the robot. We put the catheter onto the docking station of the robot arm, and then, with the remote control, I can manipulate the catheter on the robotic arm from a location outside the catheter laboratory.”

There are currently two other remote systems used for EP procedures; the Artisan Control Catheter/Sensei Robotic Catheter System by Hansen Medical (Mountain View, CA, USA), which has been used in the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), and the Stereotaxis Magnetic Navigation System by Stereotaxis (St Louis, MO, USA). With the magnetic navigation system, two magnets, external to the patient, create a magnetic field that generates sufficient force to steer magnetically tipped catheters and guidewires. It has been used in various EP procedures, including mapping, pacing, and ablation.

Related Links:
University of Leicester
University Hospitals of Leicester Glenfield Hospital
Hansen Medical
Stereotaxis Magnetic Navigation System by Stereotaxis