Pilot Animal Study on Robotic-Assisted Endovascular Visceral Interventions

PURPOSE: To evaluate technical feasibility and safety of common endovascular visceral interventions using a vascular robotic platform through preclinical study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CorPath GRX Robotic System (Corindus Inc, Waltham, Massachusetts) was tested in an anesthetized pig for its ability to navigate various commercially available devices in the abdominal vasculature and to perform routine endovascular visceral procedures. After manually placing a guiding catheter in the celiac trunk, several visceral branches were probed with microcatheters and -wires under robotic assistance, and embolization with liquids (lipiodol), detachable coils and plugs were performed. Furthermore, the origin of the celiac trunk was stented before accessing the left hypogastric artery for pelvic embolization. RESULTS: All procedures were performed with technical success and without any complications. Navigating the catheters and wires via the steering console proved intuitive. Coil, plug and stent deployment were exclusively controlled by remote with remarkable precision and stability. CONCLUSION: Robotic-assisted visceral embolization and stenting as well as pelvic embolization using the CorPath GRX System is feasible and safe. Application of the platform in the abdominal vasculature is demonstrated for the first time. Considering the precision and the potential for reducing the operator’s radiation exposure, further research in this area is highly encouraged to enable translation into clinical practice.