Two successful brain tumour biopsy surgeries have been carried out in Bolivia using an autonomous surgical navigation robot that provides real-time images during neurosurgery.
The procedures took place on 5 November using NaoTrac, from Taiwanese surgical robotic company Brain Navi Biotechnology.
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They mark a first for neurosurgery in Bolivia and a shift in accessibility for cutting-edge treatment. Both surgeries were led by Dr Mirko Mantilla and are said to have “achieved precise and safe extraction of biopsy tissue.”
Dr Mantilla said: “Having NaoTrac here is a game-changer. It will greatly enhance recovery and help countless patients in need.”
The introduction of neurosurgical robotic assistants is part of a broader collaboration between Hospital Arcoiris and Brain Navi, which seeks to make advanced neurosurgical procedures available to patients in need in Bolivia, including for those in need of stroke treatment, neuroendoscopy, deep brain stimulation and stereotactic EEG.
Bolivia suffers a shortage of medical professionals compared to global averages, and the introduction of robotic solutions could plug the gap and close health inequalities. In 2021, Bolivia had 12.7 physicians per 10,000 patients – a significant improvement from 4.6 in 2011 but below the 2022 average of 28.0 per 10,000 for the Americas as a whole and 17.2 per 10,000 for the world.
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By GlobalDataLast week’s successful procedures reflect Hospital Arcoiris’ broader mission to improve the accessibility of transformative healthcare solutions for struggling communities. It will offer the use of the NaoTrac robotic system in neurosurgery procedures at minimal or no cost, with an emphasis on providing for struggling communities in Bolivia.
NaoTrac has completed over 100 successful procedures, offering value to surgeons through its use of Surface Mapping Auto-Registration Technology (SMART) – an integration of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine vision. SMART technology allows the robotic assistant to generate real-time images of a patient’s brain to facilitate minimally invasive surgical techniques.
Of the introduction of NaoTrac to neurosurgery in Bolivia, Brain Navi’s managing director for Latin America Nelson Farfan said: “After a challenging yet deeply rewarding process, I believe this programme will truly benefit the people of Bolivia. By embracing the latest advancements in precision medicine, we are giving Bolivians access to world-class medical care and the opportunity for healthier, brighter futures.”
Robotics are set to continue to drive the global standard of care, despite economic setbacks in recent years. In its 2023 Robotics in Medical Devices Market report, GlobalData noted: “Due to higher capital expenditures, the medical robotics industry was more vulnerable to the economic impacts than other less expensive devices during economic headwinds in 2022. However, as the underlying demand is still very strong, the robotics business will keep growing through 2030.”
It expects the surgical robotics market to grow from a valuation of $8.6bn in 2022 to $15.8bn in 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 8%.
GlobalData is Medical Device Network’s parent company.
