Tele-robotics and artificial-intelligence in stroke care

Abstract

In the last forty years, the field of medicine has experienced dramatic shifts in technology-enhanced surgical procedures - from its initial use in 1985 for neurosurgical biopsies to current implementation of systems such as magnetic-guided catheters for endovascular procedures. Systems such as the Niobe Magnetic Navigation system and CorPath GRX have allowed for utilization of a fully integrated surgical robotic systems for perioperative manipulation, as well as tele-controlled manipulation systems for telemedicine. These robotic systems hold tremendous potential for future implementation in cerebrovascular procedures, but lack of relevant clinical experience and uncharted ethical and legal territory for real-life tele-robotics have stalled their adoption for neurovascular surgery, and might present significant challenges for future development and widespread implementation. Yet, the promise that these technologies hold for dramatically improving the quality and accessibility of cerebrovascular procedures such as thrombectomy for acute stroke, drives the research and development of surgical robotics. These technologies, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities such as machine learning, deep-learning, and outcome-based analyses and modifications, have the capability to uncover new dimensions within the realm of cerebrovascular surgery.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Cerebrovascular; Endovascular; Robotic surgery; Tele-surgery; Telerobotics.