Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic have successfully performed the world’s first heart valve replacement using a combination of robotic surgery and a newly designed artificial valve. The procedure involved implanting Corcym’s Perceval Plus® sutureless aortic valve through a small incision at the base of the neck, using CardioPrecision’s CoreVista® Robot Enabling Platform. This approach—known as AVATAR (Advanced Videoscopic Aortic Valve Surgery by Transcervical Approach using Robot Assistance)—marks a major step forward in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.
Unlike traditional open-heart surgery, which requires splitting the sternum, this transcervical technique offers a much less invasive alternative. Patients are expected to experience less pain, faster recovery, and minimal scarring. According to Cleveland Clinic surgeon Dr. Marijan Koprivanac, this may now be one of the least invasive surgical heart valve replacement options available.
Corcym CEO Christian Mazzi emphasized that the procedure combines the short-term benefits of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)—like reduced recovery time—with the long-term durability of surgical valve replacement. The robotic assistance also allows surgeons to remove diseased tissue during the procedure, which isn’t possible with catheter-based methods.
CardioPrecision’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Fraser Sutherland, noted that robotic-assisted surgery is already common in other specialties, and this innovation brings similar advantages to cardiac care. The success of this first procedure could pave the way for broader adoption of robotic valve replacements, offering patients safer and more comfortable treatment options.
