Chile’s Clínica Santa Maria sees first Medtronic Hugo robotic-assisted surgery

The Robotic Prostatectomy marks the start of the Hugo RAS System Global Patient Registry

Medtronic announced the first patient procedure with the Hugo robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The robotic prostatectomy was recently performed by urological surgeon Ruben Olivares at Clínica Santa Maria in Santiago, Chile. The first patient procedure marks the beginning of the Hugo RAS system patient registry, which will collect clinical data to support regulatory submissions around the world.

A modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of surgical procedures, the Hugo RAS system combines wristed instruments, 3D visualisation, and a powerful surgical video capture option in Touch Surgery Enterprise with dedicated support teams specialising in robotics program optimisation, service, and training.

“I’m proud to have performed the very first clinical procedure with the Hugo RAS system,” said Dr Olivares. “From the open console and modular platform to the instrumentation I know and trust, this innovative system is truly a partner in the OR. I feel energised by the possibility the Hugo RAS system brings to patients and clinicians and am honoured to help pave the way for future surgeons, being able to offer a minimally invasive alternative regularly.”

“Today, with the start of our Hugo RAS system patient registry, we’re taking an exciting step forward to bring the benefits of robotic-assisted surgery to more patients in more places,” said Megan Rosengarten, President of the Surgical Robotics business, which is part of the Medical-Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. “That’s possible thanks to our shared vision with Clínica Santa Maria, the first institution to join our 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 our patient registry.”

“We are committed to providing the most advanced and innovative care to our patients. In this context, robotic surgery is a minimally invasive alternative that we have been performing with excellent results for more than a decade, with a total of more than 2,000 interventions of this type to date,” said Martín Manterola, chief executive officer, Clínica Santa María. “The alliance with Medtronic and the incorporation of the Hugo RAS system to our centre places us as the first health institution in the world to use this new technology and is a milestone that reinforces the dedication and experience of our medical team.”

The Hugo RAS system is not cleared or approved in the US 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 the diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition.