First Robotic GI Procedure by a Gastroenterologist Completed Using EndoQuest System
- Dr. Norio Fukami used EndoQuest’s Endoluminal Surgical System to complete a robotic ESD as part of the PARADIGM Trial.
- This is the first time a gastroenterologist has performed a fully robotic procedure in an FDA IDE study.
Dr. Norio Fukami of Mayo Clinic, Arizona, has performed the world’s first fully robotic endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by a gastroenterologist. The procedure used EndoQuest’s Endoluminal Surgical (ELS) System and was completed under the FDA’s PARADIGM Trial. The trial is evaluating robotic-assisted techniques for lower gastrointestinal procedures across multiple U.S. centers.
Dr. Fukami used the ELS System to remove a 4 cm colorectal lesion. He said the system made the complex procedure feel more straightforward by enabling traction and counter-traction.
“The device was instinctive and easy to use, enabling dynamic traction and counter-traction of surgical technique, and made a complex procedure that would traditionally be much more challenging feel relatively straightforward,” said Dr. Fukami, in an official press release. “This technology represents a monumental shift in our ability to perform ESD and other advanced endoluminal therapies. For the first time, we’re equipped with a true surgeon's ‘second hand’ that makes these procedures more natural and reproducible, with the potential to significantly reduce patients' and physicians' burden.”
EndoQuest’s ELS System is a flexible robotic platform designed for procedures through natural orifices. It aims to make advanced techniques like ESD easier to learn and perform. The PARADIGM Trial is running at five U.S. hospitals and will support a future FDA submission.
🌀 Tom’s Take:
This procedure is a key milestone in EndoQuest’s push for FDA authorization. Showing that gastroenterologists can use the system safely and effectively will be important as the PARADIGM Trial moves toward a De Novo submission.
Source: GlobeNewswire / EndoQuest Robotics
