Healthcare (Commonwealth Union) – Scottish and American doctors have joined hands on a new technique involving robotic surgery for strokes.
The University of Dundee in Scotland has strengthened its reputation as a global frontrunner in stroke care and training by participating in the world’s first robotic transatlantic thrombectomy.
This milestone occurred just hours after Professor Iris Grunwald, Director of the Image Guided Therapy Research Facility (IGTRF) at Dundee, conducted the first-ever remote thrombectomy on a human cadaver.
Employing an advanced robotic system developed by Lithuanian MedTech firm Sentante, Professor Grunwald demonstrated that a brain blood clot could be removed without the specialist being physically on site, performing the procedure from a remote location within the School of Medicine at Ninewells Hospital.
The breakthrough continued when Dr. Ricardo Hanel, MD, PhD, alongside Professor Grunwald, used Sentante’s device to complete the first-ever transatlantic thrombectomy on a human cadaveric model situated at the IGTRF, while operating from the US location of the Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Sentante system employs standard guidewires and catheters linked to a device featuring a high-resolution sensory array that records the surgeon’s hand movements. These movements are then mirrored in real time by a robotic unit positioned at the patient’s side.
Unlike conventional joystick-controlled surgical robots, Sentante provides genuine force feedback directly to the surgeon’s fingertips, simulating the tactile sensations of performing surgery by hand. The procedure only requires a clinician trained in arterial access, after which a specialist—such as Professor Grunwald or Dr Hanel—can carry out the thrombectomy remotely.
Professor Grunwald indicated that as a neurointerventionist, it is extraordinary to experience the same level of fine control and tactile resistance through a robotic system as during a hands-on procedure. She pointed out that the Sentante’s technology effectively closes the gap between surgeon and patient, regardless of distance and this robotic platform is transforming what is achievable in endovascular care today. Professor Grunwald further pointed out that it combines precision, safety, and wider access to treatment in a single innovation.
Globally, around 15 million strokes occur each year. In the UK alone, the total societal cost is estimated at £26 billion annually, with £8.6 billion allocated to NHS and social care expenses.
Researchers pointed out that thrombectomy is the most effective treatment for strokes caused by major brain vessel blockages—but access remains extremely limited. In 2024, just 212 patients in Scotland received the procedure, representing only 2.2% of ischemic stroke cases.
A major hurdle is the shortage of interventional neuroradiologists, the specialists needed to perform these life- and brain-saving operations.
“By the time patients reach a specialist centre, there’s often no brain left to save. Every six minutes delay in receiving treatment equates to a 1% lesser chance of a good outcome,” said Professor Grunwald. “For example, here in Dundee we’re covering the north of Scotland – so a patient coming from Inverness or one of the islands would have a long distance to travel. The answer lies in expanding expertise locally through cross-specialty training, or by using robotic technology, such as Sentante, that lets experts operate remotely.”
Dr Hanel stated that tele-neurointervention gives us the ability to bridge the gap and extend access to one of medicine’s most life-changing procedures – thrombectomy – to a wider population. He further indicated that carrying out surgery from the US to Scotland with just a 120-millisecond delay – practically a blink of an eye – is truly extraordinary.
The IGTRF serves as the official global training hub for the World Federation for Interventional Stroke Treatment, educating physicians and teams from around the world. The centre provides a distinctive medical imaging environment and collaborates closely with Dundee’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) to deliver interventional training, support medical device testing, and facilitate research initiatives.
