PrimaNova® Collaborative Projects
Clinical & Market Needs
Neurosurgery has evolved significantly with the advent of minimally invasive procedures, revolutionizing the treatment of neurological conditions by reducing trauma and improving patient outcomes. Despite the advancements, existing minimally invasive tools can be cumbersome, offering limited dexterity and visualization in tight and complex anatomical spaces. Moreover, the precision required in neurosurgery often necessitates extensive training and experience, which can be a barrier to widespread adoption of these techniques.
Robotic system for keyhole neurosurgery
Panda Surgical is developing a next-generation handheld robotics platform that offers enhanced dexterity and control in confined spaces, enabling more surgeons to perform complex minimally invasive procedures. Exchangeable wristed surgical tools accompanied by AI-powered software provides assistance during the surgical workflow, allowing surgeons to reach previously unattainable areas and perform delicate maneuvers safely and precisely.
Real-time tissue visualization techniques
Each year in the US alone there are more than 24,000 diagnosed cases of gliomas, a relentless cancer with a low rate of survival when untreated. Brain mapping is performed by applying stimuli directly to the brain tissue. By monitoring the patient's response to stimuli, a neurosurgeon can understand exactly which neurological functions are controlled by that region of the brain, allowing preservation of brain areas responsible for speech, motor, sensory and cognition. NeuroCarta is developing a cutting edge hand-held cortical/subcortical stimulator that is more affordable and provides more control to the surgeon, allowing more precise tumor excision, hereby improving treatment outcome and recovery.
