Discover your next big idea for life sciences at PACK EXPO Las Vegas
Experience a breakthrough in life sciences packaging—explore solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries, all in one place this September

New Robotic Catheters Can Self-Navigate the Heart

Bioengineers used machine learning to create a self-driving medical robot catheter that can navigate a heart.

Catheter View / Image: Fagogenis
Catheter View / Image: Fagogenis

A recent Discover article discussed the latest development in the world of catheters. A team of researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital in Massachusetts has created a robotic catheter that can navigate its way through a beating heart without the aid of a surgeon’s guiding hand. The device completed 83 trials on five different live pigs, and hit its target 95% of the time, roughly the same success rate as an experienced surgeon. Using a catheter that “self-drives” frees the surgeon up to focus on more specific aspects of a procedure, yielding better outcomes for the patient.

The device is intended for a procedure that corrects aortic valve stenosis, a condition that causes the valve between heart chambers to constrict. The robotic catheter features an LED light and camera, and is touch-sensitive enough to know if it comes in contact with blood, heart tissue, or the valve. Once in place, the surgeon can deploy a plug to stop the leak in the heart. Artificial intelligence inside the device means that it continues to learn and improve.

Medical Device Innovations Report
Cutting-edge packaging technologies are transforming the medical device sector in PMMI’s “Innovation in Medical Device” report, featuring advanced materials, smart solutions, and evolving regulations. Editors share insights from nearly 300 PACK EXPO booth visits—each product deemed new and truly innovative—alongside video demonstrations of the equipment and materials on display.
Learn More
Medical Device Innovations Report
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO
Looking for CPG-focused digital transformation solutions? Download our editor-curated list from PACK EXPO featuring top companies offering warehouse management, ERP, digital twin, and MES software with supply chain visibility and analytics capabilities—all tailored specifically for CPG operations.
Download Now
List: Digitalization Companies From PACK EXPO