Robocath’s R-One System Studied in France for Robotic Carotid Stenting

October 19, 2023—Robocath, a France-based developer of smart robotic solutions for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced the results of the CARE prospective, single-arm, nonrandomized clinical trial assessing the feasibility of robotic carotid stenting.

According to the company, CARE is the first phase in a research program launched in July 2021 by Robocath and Rennes University Hospital in Rennes, France. The long-term aim of the program is to enhance current and future generations of robots to improve the treatment of neurovascular diseases such as strokes.

In November 2021, the company announced that a robotic carotid stenting procedure using the company’s R-One system was successfully performed by neurointerventionalist François Eugène, MD, and colleagues at Rennes University Hospital.

In the CARE trial, Rennes University Hospital neurointerventionalist Quentin Alias, MD, and Dr. Eugène performed seven robotic procedures using the R-One robotic platform. All procedures with R-One demonstrated a 100% clinical success rate with no medical complications. From a technical standpoint, only one of the procedures required a complete manual conversion, reported the company.

“I am honored to have been part of this clinical trial, which marks an important first step on the road to making robotic procedures routine practice for the treatment of strokes,” commented Dr. Eugène in Robocath’s press release. “The success of these procedures is down to two key factors: accuracy and speed of patient care.”

Dr. Eugène explained, “Just like human hands, Robocath’s robot can move with millimeter precision and ensure the instruments remain in a fixed position for the entire duration of the procedure. Moreover, the technology opens up the possibility of long-distance treatment for stroke patients. Given these advantages, I believe that, in the years to come, robotic technology will be a driver of change in our patient care.”

He continued, “Thanks to this technology, we can make treatment more effective and offset the unequal distribution of resources which currently leaves many stroke patients without access to a local treatment center. Robotics has the power to bring equal access to treatments to all patients across France and in other countries facing similar public health challenges.”

Dr. Alias added, “In our line of work, precision is key to the success of each intervention. I am impressed by the pinpoint accuracy of the robot’s movements. The use of robotics could become, in time, the go-to treatment option for vascular diseases.”