July 21, 2021 – Medtronic plc (Dublin, Ireland) announced the integration of the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system at Hospital Clinico de la Red de Salud UC CHRISTUS in Santiago, Chile, to support the teaching institution’s new robotic surgery program.
UC CHRISTUS is the latest institution to join Medtronic’s Partners in Possibility Program, a group of pioneering hospitals that will be among the first in the world to use the Hugo RAS system in support of the Hugo system patient registry.
Robotic surgery is a form of minimally invasive surgery that offers surgeons improved visualization, greater dexterity, and ergonomic advantages, yet robots are used in less than 3% of surgeries globally. The Hugo RAS system — Medtronic’s solution to historic cost and utilization barriers that have kept surgical robotics out of reach for many hospitals — is a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue procedures.
The Hugo RAS system combines the precision of wristed instruments with the flexibility of independent robotic arm carts and best-in-class 3D visualization technology on an open console. Touch Surgery Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture option powered by artificial intelligence, allows surgeons to seamlessly record, analyze, and share Hugo system case footage.
In support of its commitment to expand access to quality care, Medtronic has opened a new Surgical Robotics Experience Center in Santiago. This is the company’s first in Latin America and 1 of 10 facilities around the globe where clinicians can experience and train on the Hugo RAS system.
The Hugo RAS system is not cleared or approved in the U.S. or Europe. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine availability and approval or clearance timelines. Touch Surgery Enterprise is not intended to direct surgery, or aid in diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition.