Human versus machine: are neurointerventionists more precise in manual or robotically assisted procedures?

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Robotics
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Robotic neurointerventions show potential, but objective data on navigation precision is scarce.
• Precise intracranial navigation is vital for neurovascular interventions to prevent complications.
• This study quantifies precision differences between manual and robotic neurointerventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively compare the precision of manual versus robotic assistance in neurointerventional procedures.
• To assess the impact of procedure difficulty on navigation precision.
• To evaluate safety metrics and procedural times in both manual and robotic approaches.

Main Methods:

• Twelve operators performed simulated aneurysm procedures (easy, medium, hard) manually and with robotic assistance.
• Precision was measured by microwire/microcatheter translations and rotations.
• Safety metrics and procedural times were also recorded for comparison.

Main Results:

• Robotic assistance significantly reduced microwire translations in the difficult aneurysm case (38.7 cm vs. 108.4 cm, P=0.023).
• No significant precision differences were observed for easy or medium difficulty cases.
• Procedural times and safety metrics did not differ significantly between manual and robotic groups.

Conclusions:

• Robotic assistance enhances precision in microwire navigation for difficult simulated aneurysms.
• This controlled study suggests a benefit of robotic systems in complex neurovascular interventions.
• Further research may explore real-world clinical applications and benefits.