Microbot Medical has partnered with US-based Emory University to explore the possibilities for future autonomous capabilities of its LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic Surgical System.
Under the partnership, dubbed Project Trita, Emory University will lead the evaluation of integrating the LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic Surgical System with an imaging system. This is expected to help the parties develop an autonomous robotic system to carry out endovascular procedures.
The evaluation phase will also focus on integrating procedure planning and navigation into a single autonomous system.
Project Trita lead Amir Pourmorteza said: “Autonomous robotics has the potential to standardise outcomes, improve efficiencies, reduce radiation exposure, and democratise access to top-level healthcare.
“Project Trita merges CT-guidance, artificial intelligence, and medical robotics. I am excited to work with Microbot Medical on this project.”
Pourmorteza is an assistant professor at Emory University Winship Cancer Institute’s radiology and imaging sciences department as well as at Georgia Institute of Technology’s biomedical engineering department.
The investigational single-use LIBERTY system is designed to enhance the use of surgical robotics in endovascular procedures by eliminating the need for large and costly equipment.
It also aims to reduce radiation exposure, lessen physician strain, and streamline endovascular procedures.
Microbot Medical, which is based in Massachusetts, said that the remote operation capabilities of the system can democratise access to endovascular interventional procedures.
In addition, the endovascular surgical robotic system has a small footprint with no requirement for dedicated infrastructure, said the Nasdaq-listed firm.
The LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic Surgical System can be used in multiple sites of service. Furthermore, it is designed to use off-the-shelf instruments.
Microbot Medical president, chairman and CEO Harel Gadot said: “Our vision for the future of endovascular robotics includes autonomous capabilities, which have the potential to standardise endovascular procedures and improve access to benefit millions of patients globally.
“We believe LIBERTY can be integrated with imaging, planning and navigation software to ultimately create an autonomous robotic system that can be used in endovascular procedures.”
Last month, the medical device company completed the first procedure using its LIBERTY system at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, as part of its human clinical trial.
