The ARTERY project achieved significant progress aligned with its six main expected results:
- Defining Sensing and Actuation Technology for a New Generation of Steerable Catheters
We developed advanced and sensorized steerable catheters and robotic actuation systems, which allow for unprecedented control in complex, fragile, and dynamic cardiac environments.
- A Leap in RT3DTEE Data Interpretability
AI-driven pipelines were implemented to annotate RT3DTEE images, achieving high accuracy (Dice similarity score >0.76) in identifying intracardiac structures.
- XR-mediated Intuitive Interaction
XR interfaces allowed for the ergonomic, smooth and real-time (>30 fps) visualization of catheter-vessel interaction and of the 3D intracardiac space, empowering operators' awareness and decision-making, and allowing for the intuitive definition of the target pose of the catheter.
- Precise Autonomous Navigation in Dynamic Environments
The AI-based path planner computes optimal trajectories, whose correct implementation is guaranteed by closed-loop control, achieving position and orientation accuracies of 0.63 mm and 5.99°. The result is reduced cognitive load and enhanced procedural precision.
- Elimination of Intraprocedural X-Ray Imaging
Combining catheter sensorization, real-time and high-fidelity simulations of catheter-vessel interaction, and automatically annotated RT3DTEE rendering, ARTERY allowed full awareness of catheter and target positions without X-ray imaging, eliminating the harmful effects of ionizing radiations.
- Demonstrating Feasibility of Robotic SHD Transcatheter Treatments
In vitro tests in a real OR on TEER and PLAAC procedures confirmed the feasibility of using robotic systems to enhance the precision, safety, and efficiency of SHD treatments.
Impact on SHD Percutaneous Treatments
ARTERY advancements collectively enhance precision, reduce risks, and streamline the learning curve for complex procedures. These results suggest that ARTERY technology has the potential to make SHD treatments easier to learn and safer to perform, making them accessible to a broader range of healthcare facilities, benefiting more patients globally.
Impact on the Robotic Surgery Market
The global surgical robotics market is projected to grow by 9.7%/year over the next five years, driven by the increasing demand for minimally invasive procedures. Yet, in 2p16 robotic systems for interventional cardiology represented only 5% of the market, with an expected rise to just 6% by 2025. ARTERY technologies address unmet needs in interventional cardiology, creating new market growth opportunities.
