Transatlantic robotic stroke surgery performed across 4,000 miles

A groundbreaking milestone in remote stroke treatment was achieved when Professor Iris Grunwald of Dundee performed the world’s first remote thrombectomy on a human cadaver using a robotic system developed by Lithuanian MedTech company Sentante. This system allows a neurointerventionist to clear blocked brain vessels with surgical precision from a distant location, demonstrated further by Dr. Ricardo Hanel performing the first transatlantic thrombectomy from Jacksonville, Florida, to Dundee, Scotland, over 4,000 miles away. The Sentante platform uniquely replicates the tactile feedback of manual surgery by transmitting authentic force sensations to the surgeon’s fingertips, enabling precise control despite the remote setting. Stroke affects around 15 million people annually, with thrombectomy being the gold-standard treatment for major vessel blockages. However, access is limited due to a shortage of specialists and geographic barriers, especially in regions like northern Scotland where patients face long travel times to specialist centers. Delays significantly reduce the chances of a good outcome, as every six minutes