{"id":538,"date":"2026-03-22T20:58:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-22T20:58:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/?p=538"},"modified":"2026-03-22T20:58:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T20:58:31","slug":"i-luca-the-robot-thats-changing-the-game-in-retinal-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/2026\/03\/22\/i-luca-the-robot-thats-changing-the-game-in-retinal-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"I- Luca\u00ae: The Robot That\u2019s Changing the Game in Retinal Surgery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interview with Christoph Spuhler<\/u><\/a> , Founder of AcuSurgical, who unveils his revolutionary project: Luca\u00ae, a surgical robot specifically designed for retinal surgery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a clear vision of the future of medicine, Christoph explains how robotics can transform surgical practices by providing unprecedented precision, thereby opening new possibilities for patients suffering from retinal diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luca\u00ae: Revolutionizing Retinal Surgery According to Christoph Spuhler.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christoph, the founder of AcuSurgical, still remembers the exact moment that changed the course of his career. In 2016, a close friend had to undergo retinal surgery to remove a membrane, a procedure that, to him, seemed incredibly complex. \u201cI had never heard of this surgery before, and it seemed very difficult,\u201d Christoph recalls. This moment marked a turning point, sparking the vision of a radical innovation in retinal surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before this, Christoph already had extensive experience in surgical robotics, particularly in fields such as neurosurgery, spine surgery, and orthopedics. However, he had never imagined that robotics could be applied to retinal surgery, a field where precision is paramount and every movement matters. \u201cI then wondered: why hasn\u2019t robotics been used in this field yet?\u201d he shares. After discussing with surgeons, a conviction grew in him: robotics could truly transform retinal surgery. This is how Luca\u00ae, a surgical robot designed to revolutionize this discipline, was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Bold Vision for the Surgery of Tomorrow<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of revolutionizing retinal surgery didn\u2019t come merely from a need to modernize existing tools but from a broader vision: to transform the healthcare field. \u201cHealthcare is an area where technology has an immense impact, but it often lags behind other industries,\u201d observes Christoph. He firmly believes that the future of medicine will be shaped by advanced technologies, with robotics being a central pillar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout his journey, he observed that surgeons were often skeptical about the arrival of new technologies. But with Luca\u00ae, the situation is different. \u201cFrom the start, surgeons have shown incredible interest, even when the project was just an idea. They had seen the benefits of robotics in other specialties and were curious to see how it could apply to the retina,\u201d he says. This enthusiasm, combined with a strong demand for greater precision in retinal procedures, propelled AcuSurgical down the path of innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luca\u00ae: A Revolution in Precision<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest challenges in retinal surgery is the absolute precision required to work on structures as tiny and sensitive as the retina. \u201cThe challenge was to achieve micrometric precision,\u201d explains Christoph. Luca\u00ae was designed to offer exceptional control over even the finest movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“The precision was part of every decision we took when designing the system.”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The results have been astounding. During the first uses, surgeons were amazed by the ease of use and the robot\u2019s precision. \u201cThey expected a steep learning curve, but Luca\u00ae is so intuitive that they quickly gained confidence. It\u2019s like an iPhone for surgery: it just works,\u201d Christoph smiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ease of use, combined with enhanced visualization, is what sets Luca\u00ae apart from other robotic systems on the market. The robot\u2019s ergonomics allow surgeons to focus on what really matters: the precision <\/strong>of the intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Era for Patients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luca\u00ae doesn\u2019t just aim to improve existing treatments but also to make new ones possible. For example, during subretinal injections for gene therapy, a new but delicate procedure, the robot can significantly reduce trauma to the retina, minimizing potential complications. \u201cThis will be a game changer for many patients,\u201d Christoph explains, his enthusiasm evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christoph speaks of a future where retinal surgery, made more accessible and precise, could change the lives of patients worldwide, also in less resource-rich regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

“Robotics, by leveling the playing field between surgeons, allows high-quality care to also be offered in less privileged environments.” <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Challenges Overcome and a Promising Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AcuSurgical recently achieved a crucial milestone with its first successful human clinical trial. \u201cWe learned that our design worked perfectly within the operating room, but we also realized that there are still improvements to be made to make the process faster and smoother,\u201d Christoph shares. These feedbacks are an integral part of AcuSurgical\u2019s approach: continuous evolution and an unwavering pursuit of improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the short term, the goal is to obtain certification for the Luca\u00ae platform and begin introducing it to hospitals. In the longer term, the company plans to expand the robot\u2019s capabilities, adding more and more assistance and enhancements for surgeons. \u201cWe want to create a platform that will become increasingly indispensable over time. Luca\u00ae is just the beginning of a revolution in retinal surgery,\u201d Christoph states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Future Dominated by Robotics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Christoph, the future of surgery is unquestionably robotic. \u201cIn a decade, the majority of surgeries will be assisted by robots. Initially, it will be cutting-edge surgeries in large hospitals, but in the medium term, even medium-sized hospitals will be using robotics,\u201d he predicts, strengthening his belief that robotics will become the norm in medical practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for young entrepreneurs who want to innovate in the medical field, Christoph has valuable advice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

 \u201cThe average surgeon doesn\u2019t care about technology, they care about addressing a need. Once you\u2019ve identified a need, then think about how to solve it !\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

With Luca\u00ae, AcuSurgical is poised to change the face of retinal surgery. A revolution that has only just begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Interview with Christoph Spuhler , Founder of AcuSurgical, who unveils his revolutionary project: Luca\u00ae, a surgical robot specifically designed for retinal surgery.  With a clear vision of the future of medicine, Christoph explains how robotics can transform surgical practices by providing unprecedented precision, thereby opening new possibilities for patients suffering from retinal diseases. Luca\u00ae: Revolutionizing Retinal Surgery […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":539,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-538","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=538"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":540,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/538\/revisions\/540"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acusurgical.vivir.pw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}