Healthcare is brimming with innovation, from AI diagnostics to robotic-assisted surgery. Yet the adoption of these breakthroughs into daily clinical practice often lags behind. This disconnect is especially apparent in surgical robotics, particularly in the realm of endovascular procedures.
This troubling lag between innovation and adoption is painfully evident in endovascular surgery, where robotics holds the potential to improve safety, precision, and outcomes — and yet tested and approved innovation remains underutilized in daily clinical practice.
A gap between promise and practice
In the last decade, surgical robotics has seen meaningful progress. These technologies offer greater precision, reduced complication rates, and significantly less fatigue for physicians. We’ve seen firsthand how robotic systems can reduce the risk of major complications such as cardiac perforation while dramatically lowering radiation exposure for both patients and care teams.
And yet, more than 99% of cardiac ablation procedures for arrhythmias are still performed manually. This is despite compelling evidence that robotic navigation can offer superior stability, enable more consistent lesion formation, and provide ergonomic advantages for operators.
Systemic barriers to adoption
Historically, high barriers to entry slowed the integration of robotics into electrophysiology. Hospitals faced long installation timelines, expensive infrastructure overhauls, and the challenge of retraining specialized staff. Even for institutions excited by the potential, operational friction often made the path forward unclear.
Fortunately, much of that has changed. Modern systems are easier to install, better integrated into existing workflows and more intuitive to use. The learning curve has narrowed, but outdated perceptions persist. Decision-makers often still assume robotic platforms are expensive, disruptive, or too specialized — even when the reality has changed.
The hidden cost of delay
When adoption stalls, patients suffer. Manual ablation procedures often involve longer fluoroscopy times, leading to higher cumulative radiation doses. Physicians, too, face avoidable occupational risks. Hospitals may miss opportunities to improve outcomes, streamline care, and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
These hidden costs are less visible than capital expenditures but just as consequential.
The opportunity ahead
We stand at an inflection point. As robotic systems become more accessible and health systems grow more familiar with their value, the balance between innovation and adoption is beginning to tip. But to fully realize the benefits of this technology, we need more than just capable tools. We need institutional resolve to challenge outdated assumptions and align the full potential of innovation with clinical operations.
Robotics has already revolutionized fields like orthopedics and laparoscopic surgery. Endovascular care deserves the same leap forward. The technology exists. The evidence is strong. The challenge now is adoption.
Closing the innovation-adoption gap will require partnership across industry, clinicians, and health system leadership, but the benefits to patient care make it a priority worth pursuing.
Photo: PhonlamaiPhoto, Getty Images
David Fischel has served as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Stereotaxis since February 2017 after previously serving as Director, having orchestrated the equity investment and positive strategic initiatives announced in September 2016. He previously served as Principal and portfolio manager for medical device investments at DAFNA Capital Management, LLC for over eight years. In addition to his research responsibilities, David has been deeply involved in all aspects of the firm’s operations including legal, accounting, IT, compliance, human resources and marketing. Prior to joining DAFNA Capital, he was a research analyst at SCP Vitalife, a healthcare venture capital fund. David completed his B.S. magna cum laude in Applied Mathematics with a minor in Accounting at the University of California at Los Angeles and received his MBA from Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv.
This post appears through the MedCity Influencers program. Anyone can publish their perspective on business and innovation in healthcare on MedCity News through MedCity Influencers. Click here to find out how.
