On a cold morning in Ghent, Belgium, at UZ Ghent Hospital, something remarkable happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae, AcuSurgical\u2019s robotic platform for retinal surgery, performed its first human procedure \u2014 and it performed it well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those watching behind the scenes, time seemed to pause \u2014 a collective breath held in quiet awe. But for the team who had imagined, built, tested, and refined LUCA\u00ae over years, this wasn\u2019t just a moment. It was the culmination of tireless effort, hundreds of simulations, countless design iterations, and one unshakable belief:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We could change the standard of care in retinal surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does it take to bring a surgical robot from concept to clinic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It takes cross-functional dedication \u2014 from the first sketch to the sterile lights of the OR. Engineers fine-tuning submillimetric movements. Designers ensuring intuitive ergonomics. Clinical experts aligning workflows between human hands and robotic precision. Leaders holding the vision long before it becomes reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae wasn\u2019t born in a lab. It was built through collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After years of development, the team was ready. But just months before the first surgery, a major technical issue surfaced \u2014 one that could have delayed the entire clinical trial schedule. The pressure was high. The risk was real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the team didn\u2019t panic. They reorganized, adapted, and solved the issue \u2014 in just a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe First-in-Human trial was the result of collective resilience,\u201d one team member shared. \u201cIt belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Final Stretch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With pre-clinical validation complete, the final weeks were about one thing: details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the system engineers, it meant checking every cable, every joint, and every feedback response \u2014 under surgical conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWe spent countless hours running stress tests and long-duration cycles,\u201d explains Julien. \u201cThe goal was reliability over time, not just performance on day one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
For the industrialization team, it meant guaranteeing mechanical consistency \u2014 so LUCA\u00ae wouldn\u2019t just work once, but perform flawlessly in every case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the clinical and operations teams, it was all about integration: making LUCA\u00ae a seamless part of the operating room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cFor me, it was about On a cold morning in Ghent, Belgium, at UZ Ghent Hospital, something remarkable happened.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae<\/strong>, AcuSurgical\u2019s robotic platform for retinal surgery, performed its first human procedure<\/strong> \u2014 and it performed it well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those watching behind the scenes, time seemed to pause \u2014 a collective breath held in quiet awe. But for the team who had imagined, built, tested, and refined LUCA\u00ae over years, this wasn\u2019t just a moment. It was the culmination of tireless effort, hundreds of simulations, countless design iterations, and one unshakable belief:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We could change the standard of care in retinal surgery.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
From Idea to Operating Room<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What does it take to bring a surgical robot from concept to clinic?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It takes cross-functional dedication \u2014 from the first sketch to the sterile lights of the OR. Engineers fine-tuning submillimetric movements. Designers ensuring intuitive ergonomics. Clinical experts aligning workflows between human hands and robotic precision. Leaders holding the vision long before it becomes reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae wasn\u2019t born in a lab. It was built through collaboration.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After years of development, the team was ready. But just months before the first surgery, a major technical issue surfaced \u2014 one that could have delayed the entire clinical trial schedule. The pressure was high. The risk was real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the team didn\u2019t panic. They reorganized, adapted, and solved the issue \u2014 in just a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe First-in-Human trial was the result of collective resilience,\u201d one team member shared. \u201cIt belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Final Stretch<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
With pre-clinical validation complete, the final weeks were about one thing: details<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the system engineers, it meant checking every cable, every joint, and every feedback response \u2014 under surgical conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWe spent countless hours running stress tests and long-duration cycles,\u201d explains Julien<\/strong>. \u201cThe goal was reliability over time, not just performance on day one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
For the industrialization team, it meant guaranteeing mechanical consistency \u2014 so LUCA\u00ae wouldn\u2019t just work once, but perform flawlessly in every case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the clinical and operations teams, it was all about integration: making LUCA\u00ae a seamless part of the operating room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cFor me, it was about workflow,\u201d recalls Christoph Spuhler<\/strong> \u201cWould LUCA\u00ae feel intuitive \u2014 or awkward \u2014 in the hands of a surgeon? I think we got it right. It felt natural. That\u2019s when I knew we were ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Day It Happened<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At UZ Ghent, the team arrived with excitement and tension in equal measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Florine<\/strong>, overseeing system readiness, rehearsed every step with the OR staff: \u201cWe stayed up late the night before, running through the setup again and again. I just wanted to be sure we\u2019d done everything possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Julien<\/strong>, following remotely, remembers: \u201cWe couldn\u2019t watch it live. I was nervous. But when we got the outcome\u2026 I was just proud. It was a success\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Antoine<\/strong> tracked every key milestone \u2014 from docking to first movements. When the instruments were successfully inserted, he messaged three words: \u201cWe are in.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
And when Dr. Nerinckx Fanny<\/strong> confirmed the vitrectomy was complete, emotion overtook the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cWe were still inside when she said it was a success,\u201d one team member recalled. \u201cBut when we stepped out, the feeling hit us. I literally jumped for joy.\u201d she later added: \u201cThis is one of the proudest moments of my professional life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Outcome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
- 7 surgeries\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 0 device-related adverse events\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Outstanding stability and surgeon satisfaction<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae had proven it could safely perform delicate retinal procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond the clinical milestones, the true success was human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was in how the team overcame setbacks. How nurses, engineers, and clinicians collaborated in real time. How feedback came not just from surgeons \u2014 but from the OR staff managing instruments and ensuring safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cThe OR nurses gave us essential insights,\u201d Pierre Antoine said. \u201cThey helped us improve flow, safety protocols, and emergency responses. We\u2019re deeply grateful for that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
A Turning Point \u2014 Not the End<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The First-in-Human (FIH) study wasn\u2019t the finish line. It was the launchpad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LUCA\u00ae is now entering its next chapter<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Larger-scale clinical studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- CE and FDA certification<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Integration of advanced surgical features<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Expansion to broader hospital use<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see this as just the beginning,\u201d says Christoph. \u201cIn ten years, when surgeons look back, they\u2019ll realize how limited they were. The micron era of surgery is here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The People Behind the Platform<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This milestone was made possible by the extraordinary people of AcuSurgical. Engineers, clinical leaders, and operations experts who made LUCA\u00ae a reality:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
- Florine Van Cappel<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 System Engineering\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Antoine MOREL<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Surgical Robotics\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Julien GARCIA<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Industrialization\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Charl\u00e8ne Braun<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Clinical\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Pierre-Antoine FOREST<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 Clinical Applications<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
… and so many others working quietly, but relentlessly, in the background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n