Medtronic has announced the first patient procedure with the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The robotic prostatectomy was performed by urological surgeon Ruben Olivares (Clínica Santa Maria, Santiago, Chile) and, according to a company press release, marks the beginning of the Hugo RAS system patient registry, which will collect clinical data to support regulatory submissions around the world.
“I am proud to have performed the very first clinical procedure with the Hugo RAS system,” said Olivares. “From the open console and modular platform to the instrumentation I know and trust, this innovative system is truly a partner in the operating room. I feel energised by the possibility the Hugo RAS system brings to patients and clinicians, and am honoured to help pave the way for future surgeons, being able to offer a minimally invasive alternative on a regular basis.”
A modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of surgical procedures, the Hugo RAS system combines wristed instruments, 3D visualisation, and a powerful surgical video capture option in Touch Surgery Enterprise, with dedicated support teams specialising in robotics programme optimisation, service and training.
With the Hugo RAS system, Medtronic states it is building on its decades-long history of bringing the benefits of minimally invasive surgery—which is associated with fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activities—to more patients around the world.
“Today, with the start of our Hugo RAS system patient registry, we are taking an exciting step forward to bring the benefits of RAS to more patients in more places,” said Megan Rosengarten, president of the Surgical Robotics business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. “That is possible thanks to our shared vision with Clínica Santa Maria, the first institution to join our Partners in Possibility Program—a group of pioneering hospitals that will be among the first in the world to use the Hugo RAS system in support of our patient registry.”
Clínica Santa María has more than 10 years of experience in robotic surgery and the clinic is now incorporating this new technology to continue offering its patients world-class surgical options, with high standards of quality and safety, the release adds.
“We are committed to providing the most advanced and innovative care to our patients,” said Martín Manterola, CEO at Clínica Santa María. “In this context, robotic surgery is a minimally invasive alternative that we have been performing with excellent results for more than a decade, with a total of more than 2,000 interventions of this type to date. The alliance with Medtronic and the incorporation of the Hugo RAS system to our centre places us as the first health institution in the world to use this new technology, and is a milestone that reinforces the dedication and experience of our medical team.”
The Hugo RAS system is not currently cleared or approved in the USA or Europe. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine availability and approval, or clearance timelines, according to Medtronic.
