Ahmedabad-based Apex Heart Institute has introduced vascular robotic technology for coronary intervention, one of the first for India.
Under the leadership of Chief Interventional Cardiologist Dr Tejas Patel, Apex Heart has successfully conducted over 50 angioplasty surgeries since a month of commercial installation of CorPath GRX, a vascular robotic system developed by US-based Corindus.
Terming the development as “monumental” in coronary intervention history of India, Dr Patel, a Padma Shree awardee, said: “Robotic surgery for heart has been the latest entrant, as against robotic surgeries for other body parts. Unlike them, the heart has constant movement, therefore it took engineers and researchers in the USA 12 years to perfect this technology. Currently, about eight centres in the US have this technology, and outside the USA we are the first to have it, in Ahmedabad. A robot will bridge the gap between experienced and inexperienced cardiologists.”
The USFDA-approved robotic technology for coronary angioplasty or stenting provides accuracy of sub-1 mm, against the maximum possible 5-10 mm in the case of humans. The robotic system comprises three parts — a cath lab-integrated robotic arm, a cockpit, from where the cardiologist commands the robot through a joystick, and a replaceable cassette, which carries the clinical materials for each individual case requirement.
The system costs about $1.5 million, and has in-built artificial intelligence, which helps cardiologists take sound clinical judgments.
“Currently, this robotic technology is provided on a complimentary basis. Otherwise, this technology will cost about Rs. 75,000 over and above the traditional angioplasty costs. Our aim is to make available this technology to the maximum numberof people. For those who can’t afford it, we will provide them concessions as well,” said Dr Sanjay Shah, who has partnered Dr Patel in the stenting procedures.
Commenting on the technology part of the robotic system, Riyaz Desal, Managing Director of MicroPort India – the sole supplier of the CorPath GRX in India, said, “Vascular Robotics not only offers precision and safety to patlents but also offers substantial reduction in radiation exposure during the procedure to the patients, cardiologists and cath lab staff.”
