A pioneering operation involving robotic technology is to be conducted for the first time at Glenfield Hospital Leicester. Dr André Ng, senior lecturer in cardiovascular sciences at the University of Leicester and consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Glenfield Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, is the first person in the world to carry out the operation remotely on patients using this system.
He will use the catheter robotics remote catheter manipulation system for the first time for heart rhythm treatment. The system allows the procedure to be performed remotely using a robotic arm. Dr Ng said: “The new robotic procedure is an important step forward as some procedures can take several hours. Because X-rays are used to allow the doctor to monitor what is going on inside the patient, it means that doctors standing close to the patient wear radiation shields such as lead aprons which are burdensome. Protracted procedures can lead to clinician fatigue and high cumulative radiation exposure. “The benefit of the robotics system to the patient is that movement of the catheter can be performed with great precision. It is anticipated that further developments of the system may allow complex procedures to be made more streamlined. “In addition, the benefits to doctors are that heavy lead aprons are not be necessary as they will be controlling the movements of the catheter using the remote controller at a distance from the patient outside the radiation area. Doctors can also sit closer to the monitors displaying electrical signals and X-ray images, as opposed to standing at some distance across the room from them, which is current practice.” The Remote Catheter Manipulation System (RCMS), from Catheter Robotics, is a new system and Dr André Ng, who has extensive experience in EPS procedures, has been selected to apply the system in human studies for the first time in the world. Two other remote navigation systems are commercially available but one uses a huge magnetic field to control a magnetic tip catheter, while the other uses a large deflectable sheath to move the catheter. The RCMS has the benefit of using standard EPS catheters which can be dismounted and remounted onto the system with ease.
