In a world first, a UAE-owned company will perform a live robotic surgery in Abu Dhabi on a model in South Korea, showcasing the immense power of remote telerobotic surgery for emergency interventional procedures, such as stroke and cardiovascular emergencies, according to a media release.
XCath, an early-stage medical device company focused on expanding endovascular treatment robotic systems, and partially owned by Sharjah-based Crescent Enterprises, will demonstrate a live robotic telesurgery on a model during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW), hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH).
The demonstration will take place at ADNEC on Wednesday, May 15, and will include a live telerobotic model trial procedure between Abu Dhabi and South Korea. This event will highlight the potential of the XCath platform to support remote minimally invasive procedures for managing acute neurovascular conditions.
Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, Director of Endovascular Research and Innovation at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Canada, will conduct the procedure live on stage at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).
“By enabling telerobotic procedures, we can provide a solution for reimagining complex care,” said Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of XCath. “Dr. Pereira is a pioneer in endovascular neurosurgery and shares our vision for advancing telerobotic treatment options, which has become a humanitarian and economic imperative for conditions such as stroke. The telerobotic model trial will demonstrate the viability of our platform as a solution to serving the need for new treatment options to expand access to care for patients globally.”
During the session, XCath will introduce the company, discuss navigation challenges, and provide an overview of its platform. XCath will also highlight the transformative impact of the endovascular revolution for Abu Dhabi institutions, illustrating how advanced robotic treatments can position the UAE as a center for transformational clinical outcomes.
“This is a world-first model demonstration of a telerobotic procedure for emergency care originating from Abu Dhabi,” said Neeraj Agrawal, Executive Director of Crescent Enterprises and XCath Board Member. “Crescent Enterprises is dedicated to enabling disruptive companies like XCath to foster growth and innovation in the Middle East, and this demonstration underscores the tangible progress and potential of venture capital investments from the region.”
Dr. Pereira performed the world’s first robotic-assisted neurointerventional procedure in 2019, a stent-assisted coiling procedure to treat a large basilar aneurysm. He is a Professor of Surgery and Medical Imaging at the University of Toronto and the lead scientist of the RADIS lab, which focuses on applying innovative technologies to the treatment of neurovascular diseases.
Separately, EndoQuest Robotics (EQR), also partly owned by Crescent Enterprises, will demonstrate the world’s first Scar Free Surgical Robot and showcase the results of the first-ever scar-free endoluminal trials. EQR will present, for the first time, the results of their global collaboration between Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Cleveland Clinic Ohio, Harvard, and IRCAD France.
For more information about ADGHW, visit ADGHW. To learn more about XCath, visit XCath.
