MMI Completes World’s First Robotic Microsurgical Intracranial Brain Surgery

MMI (Medical Microinstruments, Inc.), a robotics company dedicated to expanding treatment options and improving outcomes for patients with complex conditions, today announced completion of the first cases in a neurosurgical clinical trial sponsored by the Jacobs Institute for the Symani Surgical System.

Dr. Adnan Siddiqui, a University at Buffalo Distinguished Professor and Vice Chairman in the Department of Neurosurgery (UBNS) at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and CEO of the Jacobs Institute, performed indirect bypass, encephaloduroarteriosynagiosis (EDAS) surgery to restore adequate blood supply to the brain in three adults suffering from Moyamoya Disease (MMD). The surgeries took place at Buffalo General Medical Centre/Gates Vascular Institute, Kaleida Health’s largest facility and hub for heart, vein and brain care.

“This advancement to first-in-human application builds on our 2024 preclinical study at the Jacobs Institute, which confirmed Symani’s potential in brain surgery,” said Mark Toland, CEO of MMI. “Dr Siddiqui’s cases demonstrate how Symani delivers the precision required for the delicate, highly skilled manoeuvres that neurosurgery demands – capabilities that facilitate and potentially even exceed what the human hands alone can achieve. This milestone represents meaningful progress toward expanding robotic microsurgery into one of the most technically challenging areas of patient care.”

The investigational cases are part of an Early Feasibility Study approved by the FDA and sponsored by the Jacobs Institute, a nonprofit medical device innovation centre that aims to accelerate the development of next-generation technologies in vascular and neurologic medicine. The study assesses the safety and preliminary effectiveness of Symani in performing robotic-assisted neurosurgery for adult patients with MMD. In general, surgical treatment aims to reduce the occurrence of stroke, seizures, paralysis, and vision problems for patients, including serious and permanent damage to the brain.

“This study represents so much more than foundational work for robotic brain surgery,” said Dr Siddiqui. “The early success of these first brain surface cases, and the ability to perform minute surgical moves on the pulsating brain, should make the world as excited as it makes me and my esteemed peers in the neurosurgery community as we explore more ways Symani can revolutionise brain surgery.”

The Symani Surgical System is designed to provide enhanced precision and control for the anastomosis and suturing of microscopic vessels with the thinnest available sutures. It has been used in over 2,000 cases globally to provide life-changing care to patients in need of complex surgical treatment. Its impact in lymphatic surgery has been extensively demonstrated, and this study further supports its potential to address growing demands in the treatment of neurovascular disease and transform the lives of more patients through robotic capabilities.