First urologist to perform Aquablation with HYDROS Robotic System shares his experience

In August 2024, the FDA granted 510(k) clearance to the HYDROS robotic system, an AI-powered platform designed to enhance the delivery of Aquablation therapy for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In this video, Lewis S. Kriteman, MD, FACS, who was the first urologist to perform Aquablation using the new system, shares his initial experience with the technology. Kriteman is a partner and urologist at Georgia Urology in Atlanta.

Video Transcript:

The initial versions that we had changed, and when we finally got it to market, several of us were trained on the new system several weeks ago. We had already done most of the work that we needed to do beforehand, so that wasn't much of an issue. First impressions, number 1, it is a great looking robot. It is well packaged; it's well put together. I liken it to the iPhone in how Apple's always wanted to make a beautiful appearing phone. HYDROS is like that, but don't let that fool you, because there's a lot on the inside that really makes a big difference. The first of which is, I think the AI software. What that's going to do is it's going to rely on our 1000s and 1000s of cases that we've done beforehand [and] use that information to help urologists determine what their plan is going to be for attacking that prostate and removing prostate tissue. I think it's going to help younger or less experienced urologists get more proficient at this procedure faster. That's where the AI is going to come into play.

We've got a new ultrasound system, which is a digital ultrasound, which is going to give us even better visualization. Anytime we have better visualization, that's going to help us to be more precise. We have a new digital camera system, so our cystoscopy portion of the procedure is also going to be [with] much better visualization, because now we're up to speed as to what we would expect because most of us are using digital cystoscopes nowadays in our regular practice. So, now that we have this in the system, it makes a big difference. It's really not just for the urologist, some of the upgrades that we've done in the HYDROS system. The way the whole system is put together, the way things are plugged in, the way the whole robot is put together, makes it easier for the operating room staff to get proficient at doing this procedure and also streamlines that, so a big benefit on that aspect as well.

This transcription has been edited for clarity.