Dec 8 2015
Hansen Medical, Inc., the global leader in intravascular robotics, today announced further advancements in intravascular robotics combined with 3D imaging capabilities.
This announcement coincides with activities taking place at this week's Pumps and Pipes meeting in Houston, Texas, a collaborative association among thought-leaders in the medicine, aerospace, energy and academic industries.
Hansen Medical is showcasing its latest Magellan Robotic capability, an integrated system which allows real-time tracking of the robotic catheter, sheath and wire in multiple visualization environments. This advancement will enable physicians to locate the Magellan Robotic Catheters in a 3D environment during endovascular procedures. This breakthrough could lead to an eventual reduction and possible elimination of a need for radiation to be used in interventional procedures. Hansen Medical has been provided with positive feedback on this new Hansen Medical technology from the team at Houston Methodist, led by Dr. Alan Lumsden, and is demonstrating an ability to take steps toward greater automation through the use of robotics. This capability is being discussed and showcased at this week's Pumps and Pipes meeting in Houston.
"This can lead to transformational change in the way endovascular procedures are completed. This is a major step toward automated navigation becoming a procedural reality," said Alan Lumsden, M.D. "Think of this in terms of a GPS system combined with a NASA docking system," he added. "This is a great example of companies in varying industries using similar technologies to solve complex challenges, such as remote navigation where access, visualization, control and safety are all at a premium."
"This advancement in robotic catheter tracking is extremely exciting for us," said Cary Vance, Hansen Medical's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We have dedicated a large portion of our resources to enable this new capability and feel strongly about its potential impact on both the patients and also the physicians who perform the challenging endovascular procedures day after day. We look forward to taking this capability to the next level," stated Vance.
The Magellan Robotic System is an advanced technology that drives Magellan Robotic Catheters and guide wires during minimally-invasive, endovascular procedures. Magellan is designed to offer procedural predictability, precision, and catheter stability as physicians navigate inside blood vessels and deliver therapy. Image-guided medical procedures using interventional fluoroscopy, while growing rapidly, are the leading source of occupational ionizing radiation exposure for medical personnel1. Magellan's remote workstation allows physicians to control robotic catheters and guide wires while seated away from the radiation field, which has been shown to reduce radiation exposure for the physician by as much as 95% in complex endovascular procedures2.
About the Magellan™ Robotic System
Hansen Medical's Magellan Robotic System is intended to be used to facilitate navigation in the peripheral vasculature and subsequently provide a conduit for manual placement of therapeutic devices. The Magellan Robotic System is designed to deliver predictability, control and catheter stability to endovascular procedures. Since its commercial introduction in the U.S. and Europe, the Magellan Robotic System has demonstrated its clinical versatility in many cases in a broad variety of peripheral vascular procedures globally. The Magellan Robotic System offers several important features including:
- Provides predictability, control and catheter stability as a physician navigates a patient's peripheral vasculature and then provides a conduit for manual treatment of vascular disease with standard therapeutic devices.
- Is designed to enable more predictable procedure times and increased case throughput potentially allowing hospitals to improve utilization within their vascular business line.
- Employs an open architecture designed to allow for the subsequent use of many therapeutic devices on the market today.
- Is designed to potentially reduce physician radiation exposure and fatigue by allowing the physician to navigate procedures while seated comfortably at a remote workstation away from the radiation field and without wearing heavy lead as required in conventional endovascular procedures.
- The Magellan 9Fr and 10Fr Robotic Catheters allow for independent, robotic control of two telescoping catheters (an outer Guide and an inner Leader catheter), as well as robotic manipulation of standard guide wires.
- The Magellan 6Fr Robotic Catheter allows for independent robotic control of two separate bend sites on a single catheter, as well as robotic manipulation of standard guide wires. This smaller catheter design may be preferred by certain physicians who prefer a smaller diameter vessel access site, or in procedures in smaller vessels.