Performance Evaluation of a Miniature and Disposable Endovascular Robotic Device

Purpose: The LIBERTY® Robotic System is a miniature, single-use device designed to facilitate remote-controlled navigation to intravascular targets. We aim to evaluate the robot's performance to manipulate a range of microguidewires and microcatheters during percutaneous endovascular procedures.

Materials and methods: Six interventional radiologists performed selective robotic-assisted catheterization of eight pre-determined vascular targets in a pig model. The navigation time from the guiding catheter tip to the target vessel was recorded. Each physician with a clinical experience of 20 years completed a questionnaire to evaluate the ease of use, accuracy, and safety of the robotic operation.

Results: Most of the physicians reached the vascular targets in less than one minute. There was no angiographic evidence of vascular injury such as artery laceration or contusion. All physicians reported consensus about the high performance of the robot.

Conclusion: The miniature disposable robot is effective at reaching a range of vessels in a porcine model. Physicians found the device intuitive and easy to operate remotely.