Training partnership aims to expand access to robotic-assisted surgery in India
AIIMS New Delhi and India Medtronic Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic plc, announced the opening of a state-of-the-art surgical robotics training center at AIIMS, New Delhi. The center will provide surgeons with best-in-class training in robotic-assisted surgery. It is the first such center at AIIMS utilizing Medtronic’s HugoTM robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system, which was first introduced in India in September 2021. The new training partnership was announced in the presence of Dr. Minu Bajpai, HOD Paediatric Surgery and Dean Academics, AIIMS and Michael Blackwell, Vice President & Managing Director, Medtronic India. The partnership brings together novel technology and decades of surgical expertise to train surgeons nationwide and expand access to the benefits of RAS.
RAS is an emerging medical technology that can help standardize surgical procedures and enable surgeons in performing complex surgeries. The training center will offer a broad spectrum of training to enhance the knowledge and skill set in RAS, ranging from basic skills training to procedural training to more advanced and specialized areas in soft-tissue surgery. The training will help impart procedural knowledge skills using surgical robotics among surgeons, fellows, and residents from across the country.
“Medtronic’s partnership with AIIMS is a cornerstone of our commitment to make the benefits of RAS available to more patients in India. Together, we will make training and education on the latest technology more accessible and enhance the skill sets of both current and the next generation of surgeons,” said Michael Blackwell, Vice President & Managing Director, Medtronic India.
“Robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with more precision, flexibility and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Though surgical robots have been around for many years, the adoption has been limited due to multiple factors, training being one among them. Surgical robotics and artificial intelligence are already changing the way surgical care is delivered. This initiative will pave the way for surgeons to progress from open and laparoscopic surgery to advanced RAS and will shorten their learning curve to master robotic techniques,” said Dr. Minu Bajpai, HOD Paediatric Surgery and Dean Academics, AIIMS.
The HugoTM RAS system is a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue procedures. It combines wristed instruments, 3D visualization, and Touch Surgery™ Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture and management solution, with dedicated support teams specializing in robotics program optimization, service, and training. It is designed to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery — fewer complications, smaller scars, shorter hospital stays, and a faster return to normal activities1–3,† — to more patient around the world. And, in doing so, help address global inequities in access to care.
The Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system is not cleared or approved in all markets. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine approval, clearance, or market availability. In the U.S., the Hugo™ RAS system is an investigational device not for sale.
References-
†Compared to open surgery.
1 Fitch K, Engel T, Bochner A. Cost Differences Between Open and Minimally Invasive Surgery. Managed Care. 2015;24(9):40–48.
2 Tiwari MM, Reynoso JF, High R, Tsang AW, Oleynikov D. Safety, efficacy, and cost effectiveness of common laparoscopic procedures. Surg Endosc. 2011;25(4):1127–1135.
3 Roumm AR, Pizzi L, Goldfarb NI, Cohn H. Minimally invasive: minimally reimbursed? An examination of six laparoscopic surgical procedures. Surg Innovation. 2005;12(3):261–287.
About AIIMS
All India Institute of Medical Sciences was established as an institution of national importance by an Act of Parliament with the objects to develop patterns of teaching in Undergraduate and Post-graduate Medical Education in all its branches so as to demonstrate a high standard of Medical Education in India; to bring together in one place educational facilities of the highest order for the training of personnel in all important branches of health activity; and to attain self-sufficiency in Post-graduate Medical Education. The Institute has comprehensive facilities for teaching, research and patient-care.
About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 90,000+ passionate people across 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for all. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary.
For more information on Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), visit www.Medtronic.com and follow @Medtronic on Twitter and LinkedIn. For more information, visit medtronic.com/hugo.
