Blackrock Health, combining Hermitage, Blackrock, Galway and Limerick Clinics, has invested €1.5 million in new neurosurgical technology that will facilitate robotic cranial and spinal surgery. The ExcelsiusGPS® Robotic Navigation Platform has been installed in the Hermitage Clinic and is now operational for spinal surgery, with training for cranial surgery due to take place before the end of Q1 2024. Once training has been completed, the Hermitage Clinic will be the first hospital in Ireland to offer cranial robotic surgery.
In a significant development for people living with Parkinson's Disease and other neurological conditions, the advanced technology solution will be used in cranial surgery to place electrodes for people undergoing Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment (DBS). DBS is a long-term treatment option for patients with selected movement disorders, which involves implanting neurotransmitters in the brain. All Spinal and Cranial Neurosurgeons will be fully conversant in the use of the ExcelsiusGPS robot navigation platform. The team has already undertaken training and some consultants will participate in observerships in the United States to deliver new surgical techniques at Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic.
The ExcelsiusGPS® can facilitate more minimally invasive surgeries, translating to smaller incisions, less tissue damage, reduced post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery times. The system is also designed to streamline the surgical workflow and reduce radiation exposure to surgeons and staff. This revolutionary robotic navigation platform is the world’s first technology to combine a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate trajectory alignment in spine surgery.
Gordon Dunne, CEO of the Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic said: “The ExcelsiusGPS® platform will have a huge impact for patients by improving safety and accuracy within operating theatres. The acquisition of the robotic platform marks an important milestone in neurosurgery not only in the Hermitage Clinic but for patients across Ireland who will be treated with this technology. At Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic, we are committed to surgical excellence and delivering new technologies to provide best-in-class care for our patients.”