In a groundbreaking move for cardiovascular care in the region, Hospital Santa Maria della Pietà in Nola, located in the Metropolitan City of Naples, has become the first hospital in Italy to establish a robotic cardiac heart program. This pioneering initiative will allow doctors to treat patients with heart rhythm disorders using cutting-edge robotic ablation procedures, ushering in a new era of precision and safety in cardiac care.

The hospital has adopted the Stereotaxis Genesis robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) system, a state-of-the-art technology that harnesses robotic precision and safety for cardiac ablation procedures. The Genesis system represents a significant advancement in the field, featuring smaller magnets that rotate along their center of mass, allowing for unparalleled responsiveness to physician control.

"The Genesis system provides an unprecedented level of precision and control in cardiac ablation," said Dr. Mario Volpicelli, head of the hospital's electrophysiology unit. "This technology enables us to target arrhythmias with pinpoint accuracy while minimizing the risk to our patients, truly revolutionizing the way we approach these complex procedures."

The compact design of the Genesis system offers numerous benefits, including an improved patient experience, greater accessibility for patients, and increased lab space utilization. Additionally, the system's flexible, rugged robotic arms hold the agents in place, increasing the potential range of motion and allowing for wider X-ray angulation, further enhancing the precision and versatility of the procedures.

"We are honored to partner with Hospital Santa Maria della Pietà in bringing the benefits of robotics to patients in Italy," said David Fischel, Stereotaxis' chair and CEO. "The adoption of the Genesis system reflects our shared commitment to advancing the standard of care, fostering innovation, and delivering patient-focused solutions in electrophysiology."

Stereotaxis, a leader in robotic surgical systems, has been making strides in expanding the reach of its transformative technology. Late last year, a hospital in Kentucky became the first to perform procedures with the Genesis surgical robotic system, further validating the system's potential to revolutionize cardiac care.

Moreover, Stereotaxis has established an ongoing surgical robotics collaboration with Abbott, a partnership that yielded significant milestone developments in the fall of 2023, underscoring the company's commitment to driving innovation and advancing minimally invasive endovascular surgical robotics technology.

In a parallel development, Stereotaxis announced last week its acquisition of Access Point Technologies (APT), a Minneapolis-based electrophysiology (EP) catheter manufacturer. This strategic move aims to further enhance Stereotaxis' minimally invasive endovascular surgical robotics technology by integrating APT's high-quality catheter development and manufacturing capabilities.

"Acquiring APT provides Stereotaxis with high-quality catheter development and manufacturing capabilities, and will amplify and accelerate Stereotaxis' efforts to advance the treatment of complex arrhythmias and the adoption of robotics broadly within endovascular surgery," said David Fischel, Stereotaxis' CEO.

With the acquisition expected to close in the third quarter, pending customary closing conditions, Stereotaxis is poised to leverage valuable commercial synergies and strengthen its strategic position in the rapidly evolving field of surgical robotics.

As the field of robotic surgery continues to advance, pioneering institutions like Hospital Santa Maria della Pietà are leading the way, embracing cutting-edge technologies that promise to redefine patient care and outcomes. With the establishment of Italy's first robotic cardiac heart program, the hospital has set a precedent for excellence, paving the way for a future where robotic precision and safety become the new standard in cardiovascular care.