PRECISE Evaluates PCI With Corindus' CorPath 200 Robotic System

May 10, 2012—At the 2012 Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Scientific Sessions in Las Vegas, Nevada, results of PRECISE (CorPath Percutaneous Robotically Enhanced Coronary Intervention Study) were presented as a late-breaking clinical trial. PRECISE, which is evaluating the CorPath 200 robotic system (Corindus Vascular Robotics, Natick, MA), demonstrated that this system can safely assist interventionists in performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) while significantly reducing the physician's exposure to radiation and improving precision and control.

“Robotically enhanced PCI has the potential to benefit both patients and interventional cardiologists,” commented Principal Investigator Giora Weisz, MD, Director of Clinical Cardiovascular Research at the Center for Interventional Vascular Therapy at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. “This system is designed to place stents with millimeter-level control while also protecting the physician from radiation exposure.”

The PRECISE study was composed of 164 patients at nine sites who were treated with PCI using the CorPath 200. Robotically assisted PCI was successfully completed without having to convert to manual PCI in 98.8% of patients and without device-related complications. The overall procedural success rate was 97.6%. Physician exposure to radiation was reduced by 95.2%.

With the CorPath 200 robotic system, PCI is performed from a radiation-protected cockpit in a seated position, without the need for the heavy lead apron. The system provides precise, computer-controlled guidewire and stent placement by using a joystick. Additionally, the cockpit provides a better ergonomic position and view of the angiography screens compared to traditional procedures, thus allowing for more accurate measurements.

Dr. Weisz concluded, “The PRECISE trial demonstrates robotically assisted PCI is safe and feasible for most patients. At the same time, robotic treatment can make the procedure safer for the interventional cardiologist as well, by reducing the risk of radiation. In the study, physicians were exposed to significantly lower levels of radiation.”