Feb 1 2011
Catheter Robotics has announced that their Amigo robot is undergoing clinical trials at the Morristown Memorial Hospital’s electrophysiology lab.
Dr. Timothy Mahoney, Electrophysiologist at Morristown Memorial's Electrophysiology Lab, has stated that he has easily directed a heart catheter by means of a remote-control joystick and he also got easily accustomed to its operation. He mentioned that the company informed him that the robotic arm cannot offer the same type of tactile feedback a surgeon receives while manually guiding the catheter. But he felt that it was not a big issue.
Mahoney is part of the team of surgeons in the electrophysiology lab conducting the clinical trial. It is expected that the Amigo robot will soon be deployed for treating random heartbeats. It will also enable surgeons to include heart valves. In the beginning of this month, Mahoney utilized the robot on a patient.
The robotic arm is also tested nationwide at several medical centers like the Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at the Morristown Memorial.
The surgeons performing the investigation have mentioned that if the Amigo robot clears the clinical trial it will be deployed in cardiac procedures for placing the catheter firmly. They have mentioned that since fluoroscopy is used to direct the catheters through the heart, the Amigo robot enables them to operate at a considerable distance from the patient. So a protective lead apron weighing 15 pounds need not be put on during the surgery.
According to Jonathan Sussman, an Electrophysiologst and the Principal Investigator for the Study at Morristown Memorial, if the catheter is accurately placed in six to eight predestined locations in heart, then the robotic arm would be considered successful in the clinical trial. She added that the robotic arm successfully lived up to the requirements.
Missiaen Jenkins, Marketing Manager for Catheter Robotics, has stated that Amigo robot has won several patents and it will continue to be their only product.