RAMSES · Robust Actuation through Magnetism for Safe Endovascular Surgery

Endovascular interventions are an established class of procedures within minimally invasive surgery (MIS). They enable the treatment of cardiovascular diseases through small incisions in the body by using flexible instruments. Conventionally, these instruments are manually operated, which restricts their precision, and limits their applicability. The magnetic actuation of instruments for endovascular interventions creates a novel and effective steering alternative. Even in deeply seated regions, magnetic flexible instruments provide clinicians with dexterity, while retaining minimal access. Thereby, they permit a range of advanced surgical tasks unattainable otherwise. Nevertheless, to be remotely actuated, such instruments rely on magnetic fields originating from outside the body. Thus, the aim of RAMSES is to develop and evaluate a clinic-ready robotic system capable of generating external fields during endovascular interventions. The RAMSES system will become an enabling technology for the clinical use of magnetic surgical instruments. It will truly revolutionize MIS, opening a new market for advanced diagnosis and treatment options. The RAMSES system will contain optimized electromagnetic actuators, located on robotic manipulators and powered by dedicated control software. The resulting versatile clinical framework will be applicable to a wide range of surgical instruments. This includes both commercially-available magnetic catheters as well as novel experimental designs. As a consequence, RAMSES will satisfy the needs of clinicians to further expand the effectiveness and availability of MIS techniques. It will provide an indispensable clinical tool for accurate and comprehensive surgical interventions in hard-to-reach locations within the human body. RAMSES aspires to turn magnetic actuation into a commercially successful technology. It involves strong industrial collaborations and a dedicated business development team in an ambitious quest to make that happen.