Cutting-edge medical infrastructure

Da Vinci Robot

Da Vinci is a surgicalassistance robot. The inspiration came in the form of Leonardo da Vinci, a renowned painter, sculptor and inventor from the late 15th century.

It increases surgical precision and acts as an extension of the surgeon’s hand when used to perform minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.

The robot has been rolled out as part of mandates given by the canton, notably in the fields of visceral surgery, bariatric surgery (SMOB Centre recognised at Swiss level) and urology (in particular for removal of the prostate). All patients, regardless of insurance coverage, will be able to benefit from this less invasive form of surgical technology.

The Mako robot

The Mako robotic-arm assisted surgery system is state-of-the-art technology developed for partial and total knee replacements as well as total hip replacements. It assists your orthopaedic surgeon with the pre-operative planning and positioning of the implant based on your unique anatomy. Your surgeon then uses the robotic arm to perform the operation and accurately remove the damaged bone from your knee or hip. The aim is to place the implant in the optimal position so that you can experience better function and more natural motion in your new joint.

This technology involves a virtual 3D model of the unique anatomy of your knee based on images from a pre-operative CT scan. This model is then synchronised with anatomical reference points during the procedure, allowing your surgeon to make any necessary adjustments to your plan during surgery and accurately prepare the bone surface to within 0.5 mm.

With an extensive portfolio of technological innovations over the years as well as over 1,000 robotic systems installed and more than 300,000 procedures performed worldwide, Mako celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.

HUGO™

Hugo™ is an innovation in minimally invasive surgery. With its four adjustable arms and console equipped with 3D visualisation, Hugo™ offers surgeons a high degree of flexibility. It enables the recording, anonymisation and analysis of procedures, promoting continuous improvement in medical practices.

Cyberknife

The CyberKnife® system is a stereotactic radiotherapy solution that can be used anywhere on the body (stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT), meaning that high doses of radiation can be delivered with a degree of precision in the sub-millimetre range, i.e. less than the thickness of a five-pence coin.

Unlike in conventional radiotherapy, the radiation head in the CyberKnife system (known as a linear accelerator) is mounted on a robotic arm, which ensures full mobility and allows the tumour to be irradiated from different directions. This flexibility makes it possible to deliver high doses of radiation to the tumour with extreme precision, regardless of where it is located in the body.

The CyberKnife system also uses real-time imaging in order to precisely target and continually adjust the area to be irradiated. The robotic arm corrects for even the slightest movement of the patient or tumour, for example as a result of breathing in the case of lung tumours.

This allows moving tumours to be targeted with the utmost precision, whilst the patient reclines comfortably on the treatment table and breathes normally.

Radixact

The Radixact^® system represents the latest generation of the TomoTherapy® platform, which is designed to deliver image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) with next-level precision. It is an all-in-one system that allows doctors to carry out imaging exams and deliver treatment using the same equipment and do so via a faster, more precise and more practical procedure.
This is possible thanks to the fact that the Radixact system is equipped with an on-board kilovoltage computed tomography (kVCT) imaging system and a linear accelerator. Whereas the devices used in conventional radiotherapy deliver a wide beam of radiation, the Radixact^® system divides it into multiple narrow beams delivered helically in an ultra-precise manner over 360 degrees, with each beam having the ability to deliver a specific dose of radiation.

At each stage in the treatment, doctors are able to continually adjust the delivery of radiation to the anatomy of the patient in question, so that the right dose of radiation is delivered to the right place at the right time. This makes it easier to target the different regions of a tumour whilst sparing surrounding healthy tissue and organs and thus reducing the risk of side-effects. Automated, smart processes and tools that aid in decision-making during treatment also allow doctors to adjust your treatment based on changes in the size, shape and location of your tumour.

Artemis

May 2020 saw the arrival of new equipment for prostate cancer diagnosis in the Clinique de Valère. A first in the Valais region.

This device is quite simply one of the most powerful in the world for 3D visualisation of the prostrate and for performing – by means of a robotic arm – targeted prostate biopsies in cases of suspected cancer. A major step forward in diagnostic accuracy and thus in treatment.

It is now possible to model the prostate in three dimensions and to merge MRI and ultrasound images. Suspicious areas are thus identified with high precision according to their degree of aggressiveness. This enables the new device to improve the assessment of disease severity. This is an invaluable tool for making a quality and very precise diagnosis and thus avoids possible over-treatment, given that not all cancers require treatment.

Mindmotion Go

Created by MindMaze, a company based in Lausanne, MindMotion GO is an innovative device that offers fun, game-based digital therapy to support physical and cognitive rehabilitation. MindMotion GO consists of several cameras and a large screen. The patient is positioned in front of the device and plays therapeutic video games using only their body movements, which are automatically captured and tracked by the cameras. They do not need a console or joystick. The technology therefore requires the patient to actively engage in the exercises.

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REAplan

Developed by Belgian start-up Axinesis, REAplan technology is a robotic-assisted medical device designed to interact with patients and mobilise their upper limbs for improved motor function recovery. 
Patients hold onto an end effector, which is similar to a joystick, in order to move their arms in a horizontal plane; the intensity, strength and speed can all be adjusted.

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