The St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein and Utrecht, the Netherlands, has finalized an agreement with Vitestro, a prominent medical robotics developer based in Utrecht, to introduce two state-of-the-art autonomous blood drawing devices into its daily operations. Following this agreement, the implementation of these cutting-edge devices is anticipated upon CE marking.
Since 2017, Vitestro has dedicated its efforts to the development of an innovative blood-drawing device designed to ensure safe and accurate patient blood draws. The device combines AI-driven, ultrasound-guided 3D reconstruction, and submillimeter precision needle insertion, achieving a safe and more consistent blood collection.
The St. Antonius Hospital, a renowned institution in the Netherlands recognized for its specialized care in cardiovascular, pulmonary, and cancer diseases, is embarking on a significant progression in its collaborative efforts with Vitestro.
Annually, blood drawing occurs billions of times globally, serving a crucial role in diagnostic procedures. Despite its significance, clinical laboratories face substantial staff shortages. The automation of this common procedure is an important next step for clinical laboratories including those at St. Antonius Hospital, positively contributing to the quality of patient care and strengthening overall organizational sustainability.
Innovation Ambassador
The St. Antonius Hospital played a proactive role in the device’s development since its inception in 2017. Subsequently, rigorous testing of the technology has been consistently and successfully conducted with patients at the St. Antonius Hospital; notably during the A.D.O.P.T. trial, a study launched earlier this year. Vitestro anticipates that the outcomes of the A.D.O.P.T. trial will lead to European CE marking by the end of 2024.
At St. Antonius Hospital, a strong emphasis on research and innovation fosters an environment conducive to conducting robust clinical studies, a testament to the institution’s commitment to advancing healthcare.
A.D.O.P.T.
The A.D.O.P.T. trial (Autonomous Blood Drawing Optimization and Performance Testing), stands as the largest trial to date globally with focus on autonomous blood drawing, involving over 10,000 patients. Alongside St. Antonius Hospital, Result Laboratorium at Albert Schweitzer Hospital, OLVG Lab, and Amsterdam UMC are collaborative partners in the study.
Marc Koster, member of the Board of Directors of St. Antonius Hospital, said, “In Clinical Chemistry, several high-profile innovations are underway, such as blood transport with drones, the use of artificial intelligence for better diagnostics, and this automated blood drawing innovation. The hospital is an attractive partner for developers such as Vitestro.”
“The vast majority of clinical chemistry laboratory processes have been automated for many years. This brings benefits, among other things, in the standardization of blood collection, improving quality. In addition, staff shortages in healthcare are hospital-wide, as is the case at our blood collection clinic. Staff drawing blood are under great work pressure and with these robots, we can reduce that pressure significantly. We expect that autonomous- and manual blood draws will continue to coexist.
“Meanwhile, patients are enthusiastic: almost all those surveyed at the blood draw clinic would like to use this robot for blood drawing.”
In the near future, patients will have the option to autonomously undergo blood draws using the device, under the supervision of a trained healthcare professional. Vitestro’s pioneering blood draw device will complement the conventional approach to manual blood draws.
Toon Overbeeke, CEO and co-founder at Vitestro, adds: “Our device is undeniably the biggest innovation in blood collection in decades, and will go a long way to solve the sharply increasing shortage of healthcare personnel. Since 2018, we are closely working with the enthusiastic and driven team at the St. Antonius hospital. It is exciting to now take the next step in our collaboration.”
Vitestro Academy
In the upcoming quarters, several hospitals, laboratories and blood drawing departments are preparing for the deployment of Vitestro’s devices through the Vitestro Academy.
Brian Joseph, Commercial Director and co-founder of Vitestro said: “The first blood collection staff at St. Antonius Hospital have already participated in the Vitestro Academy, receiving comprehensive training in safe utilization and novel work processes of the innovation. Employees are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to improve patient care with this breakthrough device. Close cooperation within the healthcare ecosystem of the involved Dutch hospitals is crucial for a successful introduction of this game-changing technology.”