Microbot Medical expands U.S. operations to prep for first in-human clinical study

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Microbot Medical’s LIBERTY system is a single-use endovascular robotic surgical system. | Source: Microbot Medical

Microbot Medical Inc., the developer of the LIBERTY Endovascular Robotic Surgical System, is building on the momentum from the positive results of its good laboratory practices, or GLP, pre-clinical study. The company is adding a clinical research associate to support its pending investigational device exemption, or IDE, submission to commence its first-in-human clinical trial. 

The clinical research associate (CRA) will join the Braintree Mass.-based company‘s established clinical team in the U.S. The team is led by Dr. Juan Diaz-Cartelle, chief medical officer of Microbot Medical. 

“Following the successful completion of our pivotal GLP pre-clinical trial, and as we are in the final stage of submitting our IDE, having an in-house CRA is a key piece for establishing the right infrastructure for clinical trial execution” said Diaz-Cartelle in a release.

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Microbot Medical aims to improve endovascular surgeries 

Microbot Medical’s LIBERTY system aims to improve the use of surgical robotics in endovascular procedures. The system eliminates the need for large, cumbersome, and expensive capital equipment, according to the company. It can also reduce radiation exposure and physician strain. 

In December 2023, Microbot Medical completed a pre-clinical study of its LIBERTY system. The pre-clinical study is a necessary step toward Microbot Medical’s IDE submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During the study, three interventional radiologists used LIBERTY to perform a total of 96 robotic navigations. 

The radiologists used LIBERTY to examine and evaluate target vessels with surrounding tissue microscopically after subjecting them to procedures using a range of commercially available intravascular catheterization devices. All of these devices were controlled and manipulated with Microbot Medical’s system. 

LIBERTY is a single-use endovascular system. No dedicated infrastructure is required to use the system. This can lower barriers to obtaining and using the system, making the technology available to more healthcare providers, claimed Microbot Medical. 

Microbot teams up with Corewell Health

Microbot Medical is collaborating with Corewell Health for a multi-phase project to enable telerobotics between remote centers. The agreement also includes the mutual evaluation of the LIBERTY system for remote procedures. 

Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system with more than 60,000 employees, including over 11,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, and more than 15,000 nurses. It said it provides care and services in 21 hospitals, over 300 outpatient locations, and several post-acute facilities.

Microbot Medical said it offers micro-robotic technologies to improve clinical outcomes for patients and increase accessibility through the natural and artificial lumens, or tubular structures, within the human body.