St Mary’s take Sensei to heart

in London is pioneering the world’s first robot able to navigate the human heart during a popular procedure to eliminate a heart rhythm disorder.

The robotic device, used to treat the world’s most common heart rhythm disorder, atrial fibrillation (AF), could dramatically reduce clinical risk for patients. The advancement has the potential to simplify complex procedures and not only increase patient safety but also the availability of the procedure.

The Sensei Robotic Catheter system, from Hansen Medical, was launched globally in May with St Mary’s announced as the world’s first centre for training and development. So far, more than 20 St Mary’s patients have already been operated on by the robotic surgical hand, which is controlled by a doctor from a nearby console station.

AF, which produces a fast and irregular heart beat, is a major cause of strokes and heart failure and has been calculated to cost the NHS almost one per cent of its entire annual budget.