SR’obot Mona Lisa 2.0 helps physicians plan as well as insert needles during interventional prostate procedures.

Biobot Surgical and BEBIG Medical have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a robotic-guided high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy solution to treat prostate cancer patients.

Biobot Surgical has developed the iSR’obot Mona Lisa 2.0 robotic-guided percutaneous surgical system.

The device helps physicians plan as well as position needles for robotic-assisted diagnostic and interventional prostate procedures.

Biobot Surgical CEO Sim Kok Hwee said: “The partnership enables our companies to bring robotic-assisted brachytherapy solutions to patients.”

HDR brachytherapy is a radiotherapy form that involves the insertion of a thin tube into a patient’s prostate gland. A radiation source is passed through the tube to destroy cancer cells.

The ultrasound-guided HDR brachytherapy procedure usually uses a template grid to insert the needle into the prostate gland of a patient.

For HDR brachytherapy, iSR’obot Mona Lisa 2.0 automatically guides the insertion of the needle within 1.0mm accuracy of the targeted needle position.

The robotic needle guide enables angulated needle trajectory for an optimal treatment plan while avoiding critical anatomical structures.

The device has secured 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is anticipated to receive EU MDR approval next year.

Currently, the first-generation iSR’obot Mona Lisa is marketed in Australia, Asia and Europe.

In clinical studies, the solution showed a clinically significant prostate cancer detection rate 81% higher than cognitive fusion biopsies.

BEBIG Medical chairman and CEO George Chan said: “The future trend of medical device technology was moving toward digitalisation, automation and artificial intelligence. The joint partnership is a vivid display of these orientations to achieve clinical excellence.”