AiM Medical Robotics Partners with Harvard Hospital for DBS Study in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

AiM Medical Robotics, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School’s affiliate Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), is set to embark on a groundbreaking study to validate its robot for deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

The study, which will be conducted in BWH’s advanced multimodality image-guided operating (AMIGO) suite, aims to address the issue of brain-shifting that can occur during DBS procedures. AiM reports that approximately a third of DBS lead placements require revision or removal surgeries due to the leads missing their intended targets.

To combat this challenge, AiM plans to utilize its stereotactic neurosurgery robot to accurately deliver DBS leads with real-time MRI guidance. The company recently conducted a successful cadaver trial at BWH’s PracticePoint facility, demonstrating the precise delivery of bilateral DBS leads using real-time MRI guidance entirely within the MRI suite.

AiM’s neurosurgical robot is MRI-compatible, allowing for intelligent intraoperative surgical planning and guidance through real-time soft tissue imaging. The company has partnered with Synaptive Medical to integrate their Modus Nav neuro-navigation software platform with AiM’s robot, enhancing visualization, navigation, and control during procedures.

The field of surgical robotics has seen significant advancements in recent years, with the surgical robotics market projected to reach $10.3 billion by 2030. Companies like Microbot Medical and EndoQuest Robotics are also making strides in the field, with innovations such as remote robotic surgery and imaging integration into robotic systems.

The partnership between AiM Medical Robotics and BWH represents a significant step forward in the use of robotics for neurosurgical procedures, offering hope for improved outcomes for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking study.