About
Robocath R-One+™ is a smart robotic solution developed to transform interventional vascular medicine, specifically coronary angioplasty (PCI — percutaneous coronary intervention). Founded in 2009 by Philippe Bencteux, MD, Robocath designs systems that augment the physician's hand gestures with bionic precision, enabling sub-millimeter accuracy in balloon and stent placement inside coronary arteries. The R-One+™ system features proprietary technologies including R-GRASP® and R-LOCK® for secure instrument control, EASY-LOOP® and R-BOOST® for enhanced catheter navigation, and RADIO-STOP® for complete radiation protection — allowing the operating cardiologist to work comfortably seated at a remote control unit, entirely outside the X-ray field. The platform supports an open architecture, making it compatible with market-leading guidewires, balloon/stent catheters, and hospital imaging systems, minimizing disruption to existing clinical workflows. Setup is rapid thanks to the EASY-CLICK® mechanism. R-One+™ is designed for interventional cardiologists and catheterization lab teams treating patients with coronary artery disease, heart attack, and related vascular conditions. It is currently deployed in leading hospitals across Europe, Asia, and Africa, with endorsements from prominent interventional cardiologists. Every 30 seconds a coronary angioplasty is performed worldwide, making this robotic assistance platform a significant advancement in both patient outcomes and long-term physician health.
Key Features
- Robotic Precision (R-GRASP® & R-LOCK®): Faithfully reproduces physician hand movements with enhanced accuracy, enabling sub-millimeter stent and balloon placement and guaranteeing secure guidewire access throughout the procedure.
- Enhanced Navigation (EASY-LOOP®, R-BOOST®, R-FREE®): Proprietary navigation technologies optimize catheter and guidewire movement through complex coronary anatomy, reducing procedure time and improving lesion reach.
- Total Radiation Protection (RADIO-STOP®): Allows the interventional cardiologist to control the robotic unit remotely from outside the X-ray field, eliminating cumulative radiation exposure that causes serious occupational health risks.
- Open Architecture Compatibility: Compatible with market-leading guidewires, balloon and stent catheters, and existing cath lab imaging systems, allowing seamless integration into established hospital workflows.
- Rapid Setup (EASY-CLICK®): Intuitive quick-connect mechanism minimizes system preparation time, enabling efficient cath lab workflow without lengthy equipment configuration.
Use Cases
- Interventional cardiologists performing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) to treat coronary artery disease and heart attacks with enhanced precision.
- Catheterization labs seeking to protect clinical staff from long-term occupational X-ray radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided procedures.
- Hospitals aiming to improve procedural consistency and stent placement accuracy beyond what is achievable with manual techniques.
- Medical centers integrating robotic assistance into existing cath lab workflows without replacing current guidewires, catheters, or imaging systems.
- Healthcare institutions focused on improving physician ergonomics, reducing fatigue, and extending the working career longevity of interventional specialists.
Pros
- Exceptional Procedural Precision: Multiple leading interventional cardiologists report stent placement accuracy exceeding manual techniques, directly benefiting patient outcomes and reducing procedural complications.
- Complete Physician Radiation Protection: Remote operation eliminates X-ray exposure for the operating physician, addressing a significant long-term occupational health hazard in interventional cardiology.
- Broad Device Compatibility: Open-architecture design integrates with existing guidewires, catheters, and cath lab imaging equipment, reducing capital investment and disruption to clinical operations.
- Improved Physician Ergonomics: Comfortable seated remote-control operation reduces physical fatigue during lengthy procedures, supporting better focus and sustained performance.
Cons
- High Capital Cost: As a specialized medical robotic system targeting hospitals and catheterization labs, R-One+™ involves significant acquisition and maintenance costs typical of enterprise medical devices.
- Procedure Scope Currently Limited: The current R-One+™ system is focused on coronary angioplasty (PCI) and may not yet cover the full range of interventional vascular procedures such as peripheral or neurovascular interventions.
- Requires Specialized Staff Training: Effective use of the robotic platform requires dedicated training for clinical teams, adding onboarding time and cost during initial adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What procedures does the Robocath R-One+™ support?
The R-One+™ is currently designed to assist with percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), the gold-standard procedure for treating coronary artery disease, including heart attacks caused by blocked coronary arteries.
How does R-One+™ protect physicians from radiation?
The system's RADIO-STOP® feature allows the operating cardiologist to control the robotic arm remotely from a shielded workstation outside the X-ray field, providing total radioprotection during fluoroscopy-guided procedures.
Is R-One+™ compatible with our existing cath lab equipment?
Yes. R-One+™ features an open architecture that is compatible with market-leading guidewires, balloon and stent catheters, and major cath lab imaging systems, minimizing the need to replace existing infrastructure.
Where is the Robocath R-One+™ currently available?
R-One+™ has been deployed in leading hospitals across Europe (France, Germany, Belgium), Africa (South Africa), and Asia (Hong Kong, Shanghai), with ongoing international expansion.
Who founded Robocath and when was the company established?
Robocath was founded in 2009 by Philippe Bencteux, MD. The company designs, develops, and commercializes smart robotic solutions for treating cardiovascular diseases, integrating bionic technology to enhance the safety and precision of coronary angioplasty.
