MMI (Medical Microinstruments Inc.) reported completion of the first cases in a neurosurgical clinical trial sponsored by the Jacobs Institute for its Symani surgical system.

Dr. Adnan Siddiqui, a University at Buffalo distinguished professor and vice chairman in the Department of Neurosurgery (UBNS) at the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and CEO of the Jacobs Institute, performed indirect bypass, encephaloduroarteriosynagiosis (EDAS) surgery to restore adequate blood supply to the brain in three adults suffering from Moyamoya Disease (MMD). The surgeries took place at Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, Kaleida Health’s largest facility and hub for heart, vein, and brain care.

“This study represents so much more than foundational work for robotic brain surgery,” said Dr. Siddiqui. “The early success of these first brain surface cases, and the ability to perform minute surgical moves on the pulsating brain, should make the world as excited as it makes me and my esteemed peers in the neurosurgery community as we explore more ways Symani can revolutionize brain surgery.”

These investigational cases are part of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved early feasibility study. The study is evaluating Symani’s safety and effectiveness to perform robotic-assisted neurosurgery for adults with MMD. The surgical treatment aims to reduce occurrence of stroke, seizures, paralysis, and vision problems for patients, including serious and permanent damage to the brain.

Symani was engineered for enhanced precision and control for anastomosis and suturing of microscopic vessels with the thinnest available sutures. It’s been used in more than 2,000 cases globally.

The company said its impact on lymphatic surgery has been extensively shown. This study further supports its potential to meet growing demands in treating neurovascular disease and transform patients’ lives through robotic capabilities.

“This advancement to first-in-human application builds on our 2024 preclinical study at the Jacobs Institute which confirmed Symani’s potential in brain surgery,” said Mark Toland, CEO of MMI. “Dr. Siddiqui’s cases demonstrate how Symani delivers the precision required for the delicate, highly skilled maneuvers that neurosurgery demands—capabilities that facilitate and potentially even exceed what the human hands alone can achieve. This milestone represents meaningful progress toward expanding robotic microsurgery into one of the most technically challenging areas of patient care.”

The Symani surgical robotic system earned FDA de novo approval for soft tissue manipulation to perform microsurgery in 2024.