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In-Human Robot-Assisted Retinal Vein Cannulation, A World First
Andy Gijbels1, Jonas Smits2, Laurent Schoevaerdts2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven - University of Leuven, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium. andy.gijbels@kuleuven.be.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|May 26, 2018
Summary
Robot-assisted surgery offers a potential cure for Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO), a blinding condition. This new technology enables safe, precise drug delivery directly to blocked retinal veins, marking a significant advancement in RVO treatment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Medical Robotics
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) is a leading cause of vision loss, characterized by blocked retinal veins.
- Current treatments for RVO primarily manage symptoms rather than addressing the underlying cause.
- Manual surgical intervention for RVO is highly complex and risky due to the delicate nature of retinal vasculature and limitations in surgical precision.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical feasibility and safety of robot-assisted retinal vein cannulation for treating RVO.
- To introduce a novel robotic system designed to overcome the challenges of manual retinal vein cannulation.
- To assess the potential of direct anticoagulant delivery via robotic cannulation as a curative approach for RVO.
Main Methods:
- Development and implementation of a robotic system for precise instrument manipulation within the eye.
- Conducting a phase I clinical trial involving four patients diagnosed with RVO.
- Performing robot-assisted retinal vein cannulation to deliver anticoagulants directly into occluded veins.
Main Results:
- Successful clinical translation of the robotic technology for retinal vein cannulation.
- Demonstrated technical feasibility of safely injecting anticoagulants into a [Formula: see text]-thick retinal vein over a 10-minute period.
- No major adverse events reported during the procedure in the treated RVO patients.
Conclusions:
- Robot-assisted retinal vein cannulation is a safe and technically feasible procedure for RVO treatment.
- The developed robotic technology shows promise in enabling direct therapeutic intervention for RVO.
- This study represents the first in-human application of robot-assisted retinal vein cannulation, paving the way for future RVO therapies.
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