French surgical-robotics company Acusurgical announced the successful completion of its first retinal surgery using the bi-manual ophthalmology surgical robot, Luca, for vitrectomy procedures.
The study, conducted by Dr Fanny Nerinckx, head of the vitreoretinal surgery unit at Ghent University Hospital in Belgium, included seven patients. All were successful, she said. "The Luca robot seamlessly integrated into our operating room workflow. We performed multiple surgeries in one day, efficiently executing core vitrectomy procedures."
Retinal surgery requires micrometre accuracy which can only be performed by highly trained surgeons who can achieve at most 100µm precision, said Christoph Spuhler, Acusurgical CEO. “Acusurgical’s robotic system provides precision up to 10µm. The Luca’s enhanced accuracy should allow surgeons to treat more patients, address a broader range of pathologies, expedite training and increase both the accuracy and safety of the procedures.”
The Luca robot comprises two arms with an instrument holder at each end that are piloted by the surgeon via a console. This dual-instrument approach is the first of its kind in eye surgery, offering unparalleled precision and control, said the company.
