First patient receives robotic-assisted kidney stone removal with novel platform

The first patient has received robotic-assisted removal of kidney stones using the novel MONARCH platform, according to a news release from Ethicon, a Johnson & Johnson MedTech company and the developer of the technology.¹

“In addition to potentially helping urologists achieve stone-free patients in a single procedure, this approach could help reduce the need for retreatment after kidney stone removal and decrease risks and complication rates,” said Jaime Landman, MD.

Specifically, the treatment was the “first robotically assisted electromagnetic-guided percutaneous access and mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedure,” according to the company. The patient was treated as part of a clinical study of the MONARCH platform at UCI Health in California.

“This clinical study is the first in the world to research and demonstrate the potential for improved navigation, access, clearance and control in mini-PCNL procedures using the MONARCH Platform for Urology,” Jaime Landman, MD, chair of the UCI School of Medicine Department of Urology and director of the UCI Health Kidney Stone & Kidney Disease Services, stated in news release.¹

“In addition to potentially helping urologists achieve stone-free patients in a single procedure, this approach could help reduce the need for retreatment after kidney stone removal and decrease risks and complication rates,” added Landman.

The MONARCH endoscopic robotic platform was granted FDA 510(k) clearance for urology procedures in April 2022.²

At the time of the FDA clearance, Mihir Desai, MD, professor of Clinical Urology, University of Southern California, and a co-investigator on the MONARCH study at UCI, stated, “MONARCH reduces the complexity of gaining high-quality percutaneous access and aids stone clearance efficiency through simultaneous fragmentation and suctioning of stones with robotic assistance.”

“With this platform, many urologists may be willing to expand their practice to include percutaneous access and PCNL procedures, thereby increasing patient access to more effective treatments closer to home,” he added.

References

1. Robotic-Assisted Removal of Kidney Stones for First Patient using MONARCH™ Platform for Urology. Published and Accessed February 7, 2023. https://bit.ly/3JOUFsN

2. Ethicon’s MONARCH® Endoscopic Robotic Platform Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Urology Procedures. Published online Accessed February 7, 2023. https://bit.ly/3x6npWG