CARLO (system of laser-beam cutting of bones)

2021: The announcement of CARLO - the system of laser-beam cutting of bones

At the end of January, 2021 the Swiss medical technical-startup of AOT submitted the laser CARLO system intended for cutting of bones during surgeries. The laser head set on a tactile robotic hand is controlled the navigation system that allows to reach the unknown accuracy of manipulation.

CARLO is an abbreviation which means "laser osteovolume with cold ablation under control of the robot". The laser beam evaporates water in bone substrate for milliseconds therefore the bone can be cut very precisely on any set depth. The preoperative plan of a section of a bone created by the doctor in advance is transferred to the robot for autonomous accomplishment, and the accuracy and flexibility of the cutting tool allow to reach high-functional geometry of a saw cut for meeting requirements of the specific patient.

CARLO (system of laser-beam cutting of bones)

Developers remind that safety of patients and personnel are on the first place therefore any movement of the patient or change of the mode of transaction lead to the immediate termination of the procedure. The laser head is automatically refocused again to reach the correct provision, and only after that will continue work. Such approach provides automatic correction of any changes from safe distance without contact with the patient. At the same time the doctor does not need to delete tools from the work area, and tools will not be able to do harm to the patient.

For certification of CE the CARLO technology was for the first time used in clinical trial during operations on correction of a jaw which proved efficiency and security of technology in the clinical environment. The University clinic of Basel, Medical University of Vienna and the University medical center Hamburg-Eppendorf participated in a research.^[1]

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