How Robotic Neurosurgery System Boosts Precision and Safety in the Operating Room

For brain surgeons, a steady hand can make the difference between life and death. Consider deep brain stimulation (DBS), a delicate procedure often used to treat Parkinson’s disease. The procedure requires precise placement of electrodes in the brain. Done correctly, it provides years of relief from tremors. A misstep by a few millimeters, however, can result in permanent disability or worse.

That’s one of the challenges scientists at the University of Zagreb in Croatia wanted to address in 2012 when they conceived a robot system purpose-built to assist in brain surgery operations. The Robotic NeuroNAvigation (called RONNA) would help carry out some of the most complex operations with high degrees of safety and accuracy. 

The system consists of a robot arm mounted on a mobile platform paired with a computer station that can plan and control the surgical work.

“We envisioned a system that could perform biopsies; SEEG (stereoencephlography) and DBS,” says Igor Klarić, Director of R&D at Ronna Medical. 

By 2016, the system successfully assisted a surgeon in completing a brain biopsy for the first time. In the following years, it assisted in 50 successful operations in a clinical environment. “The results so far have been extremely positive,” Klarić says.

The response to RONNA from neurosurgeons has been equally enthusiastic. Today, the system can plan the trajectory and positioning of electrodes or biopsy needles in the brain. Using a three-dimensional coordinate system, it can precisely locate and reach specific points in the brain with high accuracy. Most importantly, it’s very safe and highly accurate, reducing failures and fatal human errors.  

Ronna graduates university, begins commercial production

Two years ago, the team in Zagreb began commercializing the system and established a new company, Ronna Medical. But this move presented challenges that went beyond design and engineering. 

“The first six to eight months were very challenging because it was a significant change going from a scientific setup to an industrial environment,” Klarić says. Despite the system’s successes in a controlled university environment, producing medical devices for an open market is no small feat. The newly launched company needed to find funding, adapt to more rigid deadlines, and meet increased regulatory scrutiny.

In addition, they would need good tools to support their design and development efforts. They needed software that their multidisciplinary team could use to integrate the 1,000 parts in the system, including software and hundreds of electronic components like cables and PC boards, into one design package. 

To help meet these goals, Klarić chose PTC’s Creo and Windchill. Klarić had been using Creo throughout his career and thought it would be the best option for the startup. 

Creo offers advanced 3D modeling along with tools for cabling, simulation, and manufacturing, enhancing productivity and innovation. 

“I knew all the advantages of using Creo to build models–how to add attributes and such,” he says. “All these standard procedures were very familiar to me and others on the team. PTC was a logical choice.”

Windchill, PTC’s product lifecycle management (PLM) solution, has capabilities that ensure the Ronna team can manage the entire lifecycle of a product, from conception through design, manufacturing, and service. Windchill centralizes and streamlines data management, enhances collaboration across multi-discipline teams, and ensures regulatory compliance. Furthermore, Windchill provides tools for document management, change management, and quality control, so companies like Ronna can improve efficiency, reduce time-to-market, and maintain product quality. 

Klarić had seen similar products that shared characteristics with the Ronna system and relied on PTC software. A demo involving a snowmobile maker helped further win over Klarić to adopt the Creo/Windchill combination. 

“We saw samples from Bombardier, a company that also used PTC solutions,” he says. “The complexity of their vehicles was very similar to what we have and we thought it would work for our project.” 

Reducing risk, succeeding faster with the Creators Program

While professional product design tools are a smart choice for any manufacturing company, they can be difficult to prioritize for startups. That’s why PTC developed the Creators Program. It offers software, training, support, and user community at a significantly reduced rate for three years, making it accessible for startups like Ronna Medical. 

With the Creators Program, Ronna Medical can afford the top-of-the-line product development software they need to revolutionize neurosurgery. Plus the company will have resources to make sure they get up to speed and succeed quickly. “We’re already using the software every day and planning to send new employees for training with PTC Croatia,” Klarić says.

With the help of PTC and the Creators Program, Ronna Medical has everything it needs to expand and transform neurosurgery, ensuring precision and safety remain at the forefront of its work. That means a brighter future, not just for the company, but for neurosurgeons and patients everywhere.