Robot-based heart valve surgery takes a significant step forward with CardioPrecision's groundbreaking announcement.
CardioPrecision Achieves Milestone with First Robot-Assisted Transcervical Aortic Valve Replacement Surgeries
CardioPrecision, a Glasgow-based company, has made a significant breakthrough in the field of cardiac surgery. In August 2025, the company executed the world's first robot-assisted transcervical aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgeries on live patients at the internationally renowned Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Marijan Koprivanac and his team performed these groundbreaking surgeries using the CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform. This platform allows access to the aortic valve through a small neck incision, offering a minimally invasive alternative to conventional open-heart surgery.
The procedure, branded as the AVATAR (Advanced Videoscopic Aortic valve surgery by Transcervical Approach using Robot assistance) procedure, integrates Corcym’s Perceval Plus sutureless aortic heart valve with CardioPrecision’s robotic platform. This combination aims to reduce hospital stay duration and improve post-operative outcomes.
Clinical data presented by Dr. Koprivanic at major cardiothoracic meetings in May 2025 demonstrated that the CoreVista® platform supports implantation of both sutureless and conventional sutured valves with safety and effectiveness. This suggests less patient pain and faster recovery times compared to standard surgical approaches.
Further refinements to the technique are ongoing to enhance efficiency and reduce procedure time, particularly cross-clamp times, as the surgical teams gain experience. Plans for broader adoption include training to create a repeatable, reproducible robotic AVR procedure via the neck and collaboration with other institutions such as the University of Chicago.
CardioPrecision's aspiration is for every cardiac surgeon to offer this robotic-assisted procedure to their patients. The transcervical approach, used in these procedures, is intended to minimize risks associated with conventional open heart surgery and results in less pain and faster recovery for patients.
Dr. Koprivanac stated that combining the artificial heart valve with this new surgical technology means patients should experience less pain and less time in the hospital following heart surgery. Fraser Sutherland, MD, Chief Medical Officer of CardioPrecision, stated that the journey to realize their vision of enabling heart surgery through a small incision in the neck has begun over a decade ago and is already delivering tangible patient benefits.
Ying Sutherland, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of CardioPrecision, expressed satisfaction at the procedure's realization, initially developed as a totally endoscopic procedure with robot assistance. InnoScot Health, a supportive company, retains a presence on CardioPrecision's board during this important time in its success.
This robotic-assisted aortic valve replacement (RAVR) is a significant milestone for CardioPrecision, with more exciting developments expected ahead. The company's unwavering commitment to advancing cardiovascular care led to the development of this innovative product, believed to revolutionize the approach to cardiac surgery.
Meanwhile, AI is being used to bring cardiac diagnostics to underserved Florida communities, and the Evolut TAVR system is demonstrating superior valve performance in the ongoing SMART Trial. Johnson & Johnson has also announced the first cases in Europe of the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Solution. These advancements in cardiac care are undoubtedly promising for the future of heart surgery.
- The groundbreaking AVATAR procedure, a combination of CardioPrecision's robotic platform and Corcym’s sutureless aortic heart valve, is aimed at improving health-and-wellness outcomes for patients with medical-conditions related to cardiovascular-health.
- The successful execution of robotic-assisted transcervical aortic valve replacement (RAVR) surgeries by CardioPrecision, leveraging digital health technologies like the CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform, is set to revolutionize the field of science and medicine.
- The transcervical approach adopted by CardioPrecision in its RAVR surgeries is part of a larger movement in digital health, promising less invasive procedures, less patient pain, quicker recoveries, and enhanced cardiovascular-health for a wide range of health-and-wellness needs.
