Mazor Robotics, Ltd., the Israel-based company known for the Renaissance robot system used in spinal surgeries, successfully completed its first robot-guided brain surgical procedures. The procedures were performed by two separate neurosurgeons on three live patients at HSK Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Mazor said that the biopsies demonstrated the precision, stability of the attachment to the skull, ease of use, and high safety profile of the robotic system. The company considers the technology applicable in the brain for biopsies, shunt placements and neurostimulation electrode placement such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS).

There are about 25,000 brain biopsies in the United States each year. The DBS placement market is estimated to be several hundred million dollars annually.

?Approximately half of surgeons who currently use Mazor?s Renaissance and SpineAssist robots for spinal surgeries are neurosurgeons, the call point for brain surgery. By offering a spine surgery and brain surgery solution, we provide a solution for a greater number of physicians in the typical neurosurgery department,? said Ori Hadomi, CEO of Mazor Robotics.

Mazor is waiting for regulatory clearance for the brain application in the U.S. and Europe before marketing it as an add-on to the Renaissance system at a separate price point.

The FDA and EU CE Mark are reviewing the company?s robotic system for brain applications and the company estimates responses from them in late 2012, making the system available for purchase as early as 2013.