Corindus Vascular Robotics has announced that it is working with Mayo Clinic in a preclinical study about use of telestenting. A press release reports that telestenting—or the remote robotic treatment for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)—may enable physicians to conduct procedures from virtually any location, opening opportunities for more patients globally to receive the benefits of this lifesaving procedure.
According to the press release, the global shortage of PCI-capable operators is significant and continues to be a growing problem.
The Mayo Clinic has received a US$3.3 million grant from The Leona M and Harry B Helmsley Charitable Trust to support the first step of a multi-phase, multi-year development programme.
Mayo Clinic is working with Corindus to explore telestenting as a solution to the geographic and workforce barriers that exist to provide needed PCI therapy to rural and underserved populations across the globe. The press release notes that studies will help determine if robotic-assisted PCI can be performed safely and effectively using an off-site remote-controlled system. The CorPath GRX system is currently cleared for robotic-assisted PCI in the cardiac cath lab.
Mackram F Eleid (Mayo Clinic Department of Cardiovascular Medicine; Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Scottsdale, USA) will serve as the primary investigator for the multi-phase study.
Mark Toland, president and chief executive officer of Corindus, states: “We are delighted to work on critical research for remote robotics with Mayo Clinic. While PCI is the initial focus for this development programme, our long-term goal is to extend this capability to the remote treatment of endovascular disease and stroke. Corindus is committed to developing a high tech cardiovascular model that improves efficiency, integrates the latest technology, and ultimately improves patient care. Telestenting is at the core of this strategy.”
