Dr. Kitipan V. Arom and Sujit Banyatpiyaphod utilized the da Vinci system to make the initial pericardial incision. They then implanted the stem cells directly into the patient’s heart using the minimally invasive stem cell injection technique pioneered by Dr. Amit Patel, Director of Cardiac Stem Cell Therapies at The McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Dr. Arom, who is the Chief Cardiac Surgeon at Bangkok Heart Hospital.

Robotically assisted surgery requires only three small holes be made between the ribs. Through these holes, two robotic arms and a videoscope gain access to the heart, making surgery possible without opening the chest.

"We are proud to be associated with hospitals like Bangkok Heart Hospital," said TheraVitae’s Founder, Don Margolis. "They are merging the latest medical technology and surgical techniques to improve the lives of seriously ill heart patients who cannot be treated by conventional means and would otherwise have no hope," he added.

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