Emory Healthcare IRs 1st in the world to use newly approved robotic system for liver, prostate procedures
Interventional radiologists with Emory Healthcare recently became the first in the world to utilize a recently FDA-cleared robotic endovascular system.
Microbot Medical’s Liberty Endovascular Robotic System helps clinicians navigate endovascular procedures remotely. It was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September and was adopted by a team at Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare a couple of months later.
Since then, a team of interventional radiologists has used the system to treat liver cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Recently, the group became the first in the world to use the Liberty system to conduct a robotic prostate artery embolization to treat BPH. They also are the first to use the device to complete Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization mapping for liver cancer.
“Using the new system for PAE assists in navigating and handling challenging anatomy with precision,” Zachary L. Bercu, MD, an Emory interventional radiologist and professor, said in a statement. “I believe that it represents a significant advancement in how interventional radiologists will approach prostate artery embolization," he added.
The system offers greater control during procedures, enabling physicians to deliver precision care. It also reduces the amount of radiation they are exposed to, as it allows providers to remotely maneuver with a controller that resembles something that would accompany a video game console, rather than having to be directly next to the fluoroscopy system.
“Introducing innovative technologies such as Liberty to our interventional radiology program underscores our priority to remain at the forefront of technological advancement," J. David Prologo, MD, division director of interventional radiology at Emory, said in a statement. "We anticipate that its single-use, remotely operated design will offer a practical and scalable approach to robotics that supports our operational goals, protects our clinicians and provides access to quality care."
Microbot Medical announced Monday it has launched the system's limited market release and will now move forward with a full roll-out at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s Annual Scientific Meeting being held April 11–15 in Toronto.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.