World’s first-in-human telerobotic coronary intervention performed in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad: India has achieved an important breakthrough in the history of medical science with the World’s First-in-Human Telerobotic Coronary Intervention by Dr Tejas Patel, Chairman and Chief Interventional Cardiologist of the Apex Heart Institute at Ahmedabad. He used CorPath technology of Corindus Vascular Robotics, to conduct the first-in-human (FIH) telerobotic coronary intervention. This is the world’s First Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) conducted from a remote location outside of the catherization lab.

The PCI procedure was performed by Dr Tejas Patel from Swaminarayan Akshardham temple, located at a distance of roughly 32 km from catherization lab of the Apex Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, where the patient was admitted and attended to by Dr Sanjay Shah. The success of this study paves the way for large-scale, long-distance telerobotic platforms across the globe. Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijaybhai Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Nitinbhai Patel along with saints of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Pujya Shri Brahmavihari Swami and Pujya Shri Ishwarcharan Swami remained present on this occasion. 

On this occasion, Dr Tejas Patel, Chairman and Chief Interventional Cardiologist of the Apex Heart Institute, said, “The first-in-human case of remote robotic PCI represents a landmark event for interventional medicine. Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the number one cause of death worldwide resulting in nearly 18 million deaths per year. The application of telerobotics in India has the potential to impact a significant number of lives by providing access to care that may not otherwise have been possible. I am honoured for contributing to this historic groundbreaking research which is going to earn a lot of glory and global respect for my country.”

Telerobotic coronary interventional platform has the potential to dramatically improve patient access for both elective and emergent percutaneous coronary interventions and stroke in rural and underserved populations. It will reduce time to treatment for emergent procedures such as STEMI and stroke and will also reduce variability in operator skills and thus, improve clinical outcomes.  

Mark Toland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Corindus, stated, “Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the world’s most significant and undertreated clinical problem due to limited access to specialized, timely medical care. As a result of existing barriers to care, including increased global poverty and a declining number of trained specialists, only a fraction of patients worldwide receives life-saving treatment, resulting in substantial death or disability. We anticipate that our technology will revolutionize cardiovascular disease treatment by providing specialized and timely medical care to anyone, anywhere.”

The event and procedure was preceded by a small spiritual ceremony of Neelkanth Varni Abhishek and universal prayers for peace and progress.

Dr Patel said, “I dedicate this breakthrough to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj whose heart I had the privilege to take care of. His heart made a difference to my heart and through this technology I want to make a difference to millions of hearts.”

“Furthermore, of the many options available I selected Swaminarayan Akshardham as I wanted to conduct this path breaking event of medical history from the lap of God and I feel that Akshardham being a confluence of science and spirituality, tradition and technology provides that peace and spirituality, comfort and creativity to further all fields of humanity and not just the medical field,” he said.

To improve patient outcomes, Corindus has pioneered the world’s first remote telerobotic interventional platform to deliver highly specialized and timely cardiovascular care to underserved patient populations with geographic barriers to treatment. Following successful FIH telerobotic coronary stenting cases performed in India, the company plans to initialize commercialization planning for the system and expand its interventional platform to address stroke care.

Pujya Brahmavihari Swami, the spokesperson of BAPS said, “Dr Tejas Patel has served as His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s personal cardiologist during which he experienced moments of deep spirituality. His own story is one remarkable journey of faith and transformation of heart. His Holiness was one of the most enlightened spiritual leaders of our times who encouraged both science and spirituality for the development of human life and universal values. As the Centenary of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj is being celebrated globally and the current 10 day festival to be attended by millions of people is beginning today in Rajkot, 5 December 2018, this day was selected in honour of his life and work. All our prayers are with Dr Tejas Patel and the entire medical world to serve humanity and scientifically, spiritually and ethically enhance the quality of human life”

Cardiovascular disease, including stroke, are the number one causes of death worldwide resulting in nearly 18 million deaths per year. Geographic barriers, socioeconomic status and a rapidly shrinking number of skilled specialists significantly hinders patient access to timely, specialized cardiovascular care. This is especially of concern during highly emergent medical events, such as heart attack and stroke , where ideal treatment must be received in as little as 90 minutes or within 24 hours, respectively, to avoid death or permanent disability.