Surgical eye robot performs precision-injection

Procedure shows that it is technically possible to safely dissolve a blood clot from the retinal vein with robotic support

Colin Kerr

Published: Thursday, January 26, 2017

For the first time ever, researchers at University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, with the help of a specially designed robot, have succeeded in removing a clot from a blood vessel in the retina of a patient with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) Operated by an ophthalmologist, the robot uses a needle of barely 0.03 mm to inject a thrombolytic drug into the retinal vein of the patient. The KU Leuven developed the robot and needle specifically for this procedure.

A Phase 2 trial now has to show what the clinical effect is for patients with retinal vein occlusion

"The operation was successful and is a first: the procedure shows that it is technically possible to safely dissolve a blood clot from the retinal vein with robotic support. A Phase 2 trial now has to show what the clinical effect is for patients with retinal vein occlusion," said a spokesman for the researchers