Collaboration aims to expand access to Mayo Clinic’s trusted healthcare expertise and improve patient and clinician experiences

ROCHESTER, Minn., and REDMOND, Wash. — Mayo Clinic and Microsoft today announced a strategic collaboration to develop and deploy a frontier AI model designed specifically for healthcare, making Mayo Clinic’s knowledge, expertise and integrated model of care available to more people when and where they need it. 

The collaboration combines Mayo Clinic’s global healthcare expertise, de-identified clinical health data and longitudinal insights with Microsoft’s advanced AI, cloud, engineering and superintelligence capabilities. Together, the organizations are developing a frontier AI model capable of supporting the broadest scope of clinical reasoning and healthcare use cases.

The model is designed to synthesize diverse clinical data to support earlier diagnoses, more personalized treatment decisions and better patient outcomes. By expanding access to actionable insights and supporting care teams in complex decision-making, the collaboration aims to address some of healthcare’s most challenging problems.

The frontier AI model will be owned by Mayo Clinic, reinforcing Mayo’s long-standing commitment to patient trust, clinical rigor, safety and responsible stewardship of clinical data and AI. Microsoft plans to make the model available through Azure Foundry APIs, enabling organizations worldwide to access advanced healthcare AI capabilities designed to better support patients, clinicians and consumers.

“Mayo Clinic is committed to putting patients first, and we have long believed AI can help transform healthcare. Seven years ago, we launched Mayo Clinic Platform to move healthcare from a pipeline to a platform model through a safe, trusted, patient-centric de-identified data foundation designed to accelerate innovation, breakthroughs, and cures,” said Gianrico Farrugia, M.D., president and CEO, Mayo Clinic. “Now, by combining our clinical expertise and data foundation with Microsoft’s engineering and AI capabilities, we are once again building something new in healthcare and bringing more of Mayo Clinic to more patients.”

Unlike general-purpose AI models, healthcare AI requires deep clinical context, longitudinal understanding, rigorous governance, and real-world validation. The model is being purpose-built for healthcare and initially deployed within Mayo Clinic’s trusted clinical environment, where it can be continuously tested, refined and improved through real-world use.

Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, said, “Frontier medical intelligence is around the corner. This is the best collaboration imaginable to help us accelerate towards that future. Mayo has unparalleled clinical expertise, de-identified clinical health data and longitudinal medical insights, and we're thrilled to partner with their world class physicians to build a state-of-the-art foundation model for healthcare.”

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About Mayo Clinic 
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Media contacts:

• Andrea Kalmanovitz, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
• We.Communications for Microsoft, 425-638-7777, rapidresponse@wecommunications.com

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New investments and data scale aim to transform pathology workflows and diagnostic speed

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology (MCDP) is advancing efforts to build an integrated innovation ecosystem that supports the future of pathology across clinical care and research. The work reflects Mayo Clinic’s broader digital pathology strategy, including investments in emerging companies, expanded use of digitized pathology data and collaborations designed to improve diagnostic workflows and speed.

As part of this effort, MCDP is collaborating with companies, including Conflux and ViewsML, whose technologies align with its goal of enabling more efficient, scalable and data-informed pathology practices. The initiative is also focused on creating the infrastructure and relationships needed to translate digital pathology innovation into real-world clinical and research impact.

The move reflects growing momentum in the adoption of digital pathology across health systems, as providers seek to address workforce constraints, rising case complexity and demand for faster, more precise diagnoses.

“This commitment reflects Mayo Clinic’s mission to thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies in ways that meaningfully improve patient care,” said Jim Rogers, CEO of Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology. “By advancing digital pathology capabilities, we are enabling our clinicians to deliver faster, more precise insights while also creating new opportunities for research and discovery.”

MCDP is focused on scaling technologies that improve diagnostic accuracy, increase efficiency and support new models of care. Current areas of development and evaluation include AI tools that enhance routine image analysis, improve case-to-slide matching accuracy and reduce reliance on time- and resource-intensive manual processes. Pathologists and clinicians remain responsible for interpreting results and making all clinical decisions related to patient care.

These efforts are part of a broader shift toward software-driven diagnostics and precision medicine, where digital infrastructure and machine learning increasingly play a role in clinical decision-making. While the technologies are still undergoing validation, Mayo Clinic officials say they have the potential to expand access to specialized expertise, accelerate discovery and support more informed treatment decisions.

MCDP’s strategy is anchored by significant internal assets, including a repository of more than 17 million digitized pathology slides and advanced computing capabilities such as the Assisi Cluster. The initiative also connects with Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ global network of more than 3,100 clients across 55+ countries and the Mayo Clinic Platform, which provides data and analytics infrastructure for innovation.

By combining investment, data scale and clinical expertise, Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology aims to position digital pathology as a foundational component of future diagnostics, both within its own system and across the broader healthcare ecosystem.

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About Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology
Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology advances the global adoption of digital pathology to improve patient care and accelerate medical breakthroughs. It supports innovation in slide digitization, data infrastructure, artificial intelligence and diagnostic tool development, working with internal experts and external partners to build and scale new technologies.

About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.org

The post Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology building ecosystem to advance next-generation diagnostics appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

New AI-powered solution built on Bayesian's clinical intelligence platform expands access to palliative care, identifies unmet patient needs earlier and reduces readmissions

ROCHESTER, Minn. and NEW YORK — Mayo Clinic and Bayesian Health today announced they have co-developed an artificial intelligence (AI) solution to identify hospitalized patients who may benefit from palliative care earlier in their stay. The solution is designed to support timely consultations, with the objective of improving goal-concordant care for patients with serious illness and reducing non-beneficial readmissions.

Roughly one-third of readmissions involve patients with serious illness, many of whom experience repeated hospitalizations. However, fewer than half of these patients receive palliative care consultations.

To address this challenge, Mayo Clinic and Bayesian Health built a solution that identifies patients with unmet palliative care needs earlier and equips clinicians with the context they need, within their workflow, to navigate the complex conversations and care coordination that follows.

In a randomized clinical trial conducted at Mayo Clinic, validated findings from an earlier version of the program demonstrated that use of the tool was associated with a 44% increase in timely palliative care referrals, a 25% reduction in 60-day readmissions and a 28% reduction in 90-day readmissions, along with improved patient quality of life.

"The challenge in palliative care is not just identifying unmet needs but doing so early enough to change the course of care," said Jacob J. Strand, M.D., chair of Palliative Care at Mayo Clinic. "What makes the difference is tailoring workflows to local culture, based on patient acuity, and across central and bedside teams across the organization. When high-quality, patient-specific signals reach frontline clinicians in the moments that matter, it cuts through the complexity of inpatient care, drives more consistent decision-making and supports teams in delivering the best possible care to every patient."

Mayo Clinic’s Department of Medicine led the clinical development and validation of the AI solution. Bayesian Health supported integration of the model into the electronic health record, allowing care teams to access this information within existing clinical workflows.

This is the first collaboration of its kind at Mayo Clinic to use AI across the entire care process in a complex hospital setting, helping its care teams spot unmet needs earlier, connecting the patient with the right specialists at the right time, while keeping the patient’s health information coordinated but confidential for an overall improvement in care.

How it works

As health systems build out their AI strategies, Bayesian Health provides a clinical foundation of real-time clinical intelligence that shifts care from reactive to proactive. The newest module on the Bayesian platform brings this approach to palliative care, identifying unmet needs such as pain or caregiver support so clinicians can reach patients earlier in their care journey. Palliative care teams get a real-time, hospital-wide view of patients who may benefit from a consult, while bedside clinicians get clear, interpretable guidance and a streamlined path to action, so the moment of insight becomes a moment of care rather than another notification. The clinical AI continuously learns from clinician feedback and local patient populations, improving identification accuracy over time.

"Palliative care is exactly the kind of problem our platform is built for: reaching patients earlier, when clinicians still have time to change the course of their care," said Suchi Saria, Ph.D., founder and CEO of Bayesian Health. "It takes purpose-built infrastructure, rigorous validation and a thoughtful partnership between AI and clinical experts. That's how trustworthy AI gets built, and it's how care actually improves for both patients and caregivers."

This co-development agreement is a strategic collaboration under Mayo Clinic's Practice Transformation Ventures (PTV) framework which includes, but is not limited to, a licensing or vendor arrangement. The Department of Medicine in Rochester served as the Practice owner, providing leadership, clinical expertise and support throughout the project. Data scientists from Mayo Clinic’s Kern Center for Health Care Delivery, in close partnership with clinical teams, helped develop and evaluate the model to support better patient care, reflecting what’s possible when clinical expertise and data science come together to solve real-world problems. 

Mayo Clinic has a financial interest in the technology referenced in this news release. Mayo Clinic will use any revenue it receives to support its not-for-profit mission in patient care, education and research. 

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About Mayo Clinic  
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

About Bayesian Health
Bayesian Health is the real-time clinical intelligence platform that helps health systems deliver proactive, high-reliability care. By continuously reading the full patient record to establish each patient's baseline and detect meaningful change over time, Bayesian applies complex clinical reasoning to identify the patients who truly need attention and surface clear next steps inside the EHR — turning data noise into trusted, decisive action. Leading health systems partner with Bayesian to make the long-promised shift from reactive to proactive care across key drivers of mortality, readmissions, and length of stay, hardwiring quality as a durable strategy rather than a series of disconnected initiatives. Learn more at https://bayesianhealth.com.

Media contacts:

• Tom Millikin, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu
• Lauren Levinsky, Bayesian Health, lauren.levinsky@bayesianhealth.com

The post Mayo Clinic and Bayesian Health co-develop new AI-powered solution to expand palliative care access and improve patient outcomes appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Lung surgeries, when performed by opening the chest to spread the ribs or divide the sternum, can be effective but highly invasive procedures that lead to weeks of significant pain and recovery.  

Guided by the principle that "the needs of the patient come first," Mayo Clinic thoracic surgeons have begun using a single-port robotic system for surgeries that was recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This minimally invasive approach enables surgeons to operate with enhanced precision and builds upon Mayo Clinic's leadership in advancing lung cancer care.

"What we have noticed is that Mayo Clinic is one of the few institutions that is starting to roll this out," says Mathew Thomas, M.B.B.S., M.D., a thoracic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Florida who performed Mayo Clinic's first single-port robotic lung resection.

The evolution of thoracic surgery

As medical technology evolves, minimally invasive methods have emerged as alternatives to traditional lung surgery, including the multiport robotic system. 

Multiport robotic systems require surgeons to make several small incisions between the ribs to place a camera and instruments, allowing them to operate with greater visualization and precision.

However, operating between the ribs can still present challenges for both patients and surgeons, like considerable postoperative pain and anatomical variance. Factors such as tight rib spaces or reduced rib density can lead to intraoperative complications, including rib fractures.  

The single-port approach allows surgeons to operate through a single incision using similar robotic technology. In many cases, the procedure can be performed from beneath the rib cage, avoiding the need to work between the ribs.

Single-port robotic surgery has been used in other specialties for several years, such as for lymphedema and prostate cancer care. The FDA cleared its use for thoracic surgery in 2025.

At Mayo Clinic in Florida, where more than 90% of thoracic surgeries are performed using minimally invasive techniques, early experience with single-port lung resection has been positive.

"Many patients are able to go home the next day or a day or two later," says Dr. Thomas. Recovery times are shorter, with patients often returning to baseline in about seven to 10 days, compared with several weeks for other approaches.  

Bringing single-port robotics into practice

Introducing new surgical techniques supported by advanced tools — such as 3D imaging, virtual reality and navigation systems — demands careful preparation and coordination across the care team.

"We're so used to multiport and open surgery approaches, but single-port robotic surgery is a completely different way of operating," says Dr. Thomas. "The way we visualize the operation changes, and the instruments are also quite different from a multiport setup."

Dr. Thomas and his team met weekly for a month to complete simulation-based training, practicing with the single-port robotic system in a controlled environment before starting to perform these procedures on patients.

Their training also included hands-on experience in cadaver and animal labs, observing experienced surgeons and working with a proctor during initial cases to support safety. Dedicated operating room staff trained together throughout the process, building the coordination needed to perform the procedure effectively.

Next-generation thoracic care

For Dr. Thomas, single-port robotic surgery reflects a broader shift toward less invasive, precision-based care, offering faster recoveries and fewer intraoperative complications for patients with lung cancer.

The approach is also part of a larger effort across Mayo Clinic to integrate advanced technologies into thoracic surgery. 

As experience with single-port surgery grows, the team continues to expand its use and refine the technique.

"It's exciting to be at the forefront of innovation with my colleagues and to know Mayo Clinic supports its growth," shares Dr. Thomas. "We're rapidly expanding the number of patients who can benefit from this approach. I take great pride in what we've accomplished."

The post Mayo Clinic in Florida advances lung cancer care with single-port robotic surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I was just diagnosed with early-stage melanoma, and I am being referred to an oncologist. What happens next? Will I need a lymph node biopsy, or are there cases where it can be safely avoided? What other surgical or nonsurgical treatment options might be recommended?  

ANSWER: Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, which are the pigment-producing cells. The pigment is called melanin. While it is less common than other types of skin cancer, it is more likely to metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. But when detected early, it is often highly treatable. 

Early detection

After a biopsy confirms the diagnosis, your care team will evaluate details of the tumor, including its thickness, and other features seen under a microscope, along with a physical exam to determine the clinical stage and guide treatment recommendations. 

In most cases, a procedure called wide local excision, which removes the melanoma along with a 1- to 2-centimeter margin of surrounding healthy tissue, is performed to ensure all cancer cells are removed. Some patients also may be recommended to have sentinel lymph node surgery. This procedure looks for cancer in the first lymph node, or nodes, that drain the area where the melanoma developed.  

For years, sentinel lymph node biopsy has been an important part of staging melanoma. It can help determine how advanced the cancer is and whether additional treatment might be beneficial. However, it's also a surgical procedure, and like any procedure, it carries some risks and isn't necessary for everyone.  

In fact, recent studies show that most people who undergo this operation, nearly 80%, do not have cancer in their lymph nodes. Because of this, researchers have been working to better identify which patients are most likely to benefit from the procedure and which patients may be able to safely avoid it. 

Advanced options for melanoma staging

One newer approach involves genomic testing of the melanoma tumor. This test analyzes the activity of the specific genes in the tumor, along with clinical factors such as age and tumor thickness, to estimate the likelihood that the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes. 

For some people with early-stage melanoma, a low-risk result on this type of test may indicate that the chance of lymph node involvement is very small. In these cases, patients and their care teams may decide, through shared decision-making, to safely avoid lymph node biopsy. 

At the same time, it's important to note that lymph node biopsy remains an appropriate and important option for patients with higher-risk features. The decision is individualized, based on both traditional staging and new tools that help refine risk. 

For many people with early-stage melanoma, surgery is the only treatment needed and is often curative. In these cases, follow-up care and regular skin checks are an important part of long-term management. 

However, additional therapies may be recommended in certain situations. If melanoma is found in the lymph nodes or has higher-risk features, your care team may discuss adjuvant therapy, which is systemic treatment given after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence. This may be immunotherapy or targeted therapy, depending on your individual situation. 

Melanoma care is increasingly moving toward a more personalized approach. Traditional factors, such as tumor thickness and lymph node status, remain essential, and newer tools, such as genomic testing, are helping to refine decision-making. 

This means that instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, treatment can be better tailored to each person's tumor biology. In some cases, that may mean avoiding unnecessary procedures, while still ensuring that higher-risk cancers are treated appropriately. 

Tina Hieken, M.D., Breast and Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 

The post Mayo Clinic Q&A: Advances in staging and surgical treatment of melanoma  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For years, a lifelong athlete was sidelined by chronic wrist pain that took more than just her ability to compete — it took a part of her identity. Now, thanks to an innovative surgical approach at Mayo Clinic, a Minnesota woman is back on the court, returning to the game that means so much to her. 

Watch: Innovative wrist surgery helps athlete return to the pickleball court after decades of pain

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (3:06) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Being an athlete has always been a part of my life," says Tami Lucius.

A former college basketball player, the 54-year-old from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, also loved playing tennis. But devastating wrist pain kept her off the court for two decades.

"I didn't know what it was, but it was always on the outside of my wrist," she says. "I really had a sense of loss with my life and with that sense of community from not being able to be in sports. And then a girlfriend of mine from high school, out of the blue, said, 'Hey, come and play pickle with me.' I knew pickleball was something that I was going to love."

But unfortunately, almost immediately, Tami's wrist pain returned.

"It got so bad that I couldn't even do the acts of daily living. So even making a bed, washing my hair, it didn't matter what I was doing, the pain was always there and the instability was always there," she says.

Rather than giving up another sport and a community she loved, Tami came to Mayo Clinic to see Dr. Sanj Kakar, a hand and wrist specialist.

"She was struggling. I think the biggest frustration for her was the pain was affecting not only sport but also activities of daily living," Dr. Kakar says.

"He was such a kind person, and he knew that, for me, this journey was more than just the pickle, it was part of my life and my identity. And he took the time to really share with me what he felt we needed to do," Tami says.

"Just by listening to her, examining her, looking at the imaging, we then were able to pinpoint the major causes of her problem," says Dr. Kakar. "The TFCC, or the triangular fibrocartilage complex, sits right in this area. She had a problem not only with that TFCC, or that sort of shock absorber for that part of the wrist, but also the tendon. So for Tami — especially with sport — hitting tophand, topspin, forehand, backhands — anything with twisting and grip would cause pain in here."

Wrist surgery

With Tami's wrist problem diagnosed, Dr. Kakar recommended a novel surgical technique he and his colleagues developed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

"It's what we call the over-the-top TFCC technique, which allows us to more accurately place stitches, or sutures, in the tear exactly where the tear is, in a more minimally invasive manner," he says. "It's a very precise method to fixing an area."

Tears in the TFCC often don’t appear on traditional MRI scans and may only be identified once a camera is placed inside the joint. Dr. Kakar uses a smaller, more flexible camera system, allowing for clearer visualization and more precise diagnosis and treatment.

The technique has several benefits compared to some conventional wrist repair approaches, including faster completion, less radiation exposure and lower fracture risk.

Back on the court

After successful surgery at Mayo Clinic, Tami is now back on the pickleball court, three times a week — pain-free.

"My wrist is the most stable joint on my entire body today," Tami says. "It does bring tears to my eyes because I didn't realize how much I missed sports in general. I get such a sense of identity who I am, my passion for competition, my passion for people. Mayo didn't just give me my wrist back and the ability to play pickle again, Mayo gave me my life back."

Related post:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: How to prevent injuries when playing pickleball

The post Innovative wrist surgery helps athlete return to the pickleball court after decades of pain (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon describes advances in care for common back, neck problems

ROCHESTER, Minn. — People worldwide seek medical care for back and neck pain, which can interfere with sleep, mobility and daily life. For individuals who need surgery for spinal conditions, advances in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and motion-preserving implants are expanding treatment options and allowing for more personalized treatment, according to Ahmad Nassr, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Nassr treats a wide range of spinal conditions that can affect mobility and cause pain, including:

• Herniated disk, a problem with one of the rubbery cushions, called disks, which sit between the bones that stack to make the spine.
• Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord that can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine.
• Scoliosis, a side-to-side curve of the spine that can cause pain and breathing problems. 
• Spinal tumors, lesions that start in or around the spine.
• Degenerative spine conditions that most commonly affect older adults, such as degenerative disk disease and adult degenerative scoliosis. These conditions can cause severe symptoms, including stiffness, numbness or tingling from nerve damage.

Research has shown that low back pain is the leading cause of disability around the world, and the elderly are one of the most vulnerable populations.

"My practice is to assess each of my patients holistically, regardless of their age, to determine whether they can benefit from spinal surgery based on the treatment goal, whether it's to reduce pain, restore their ability to work or improve their quality of life," Dr. Nassr explains.

Motion-preserving alternatives to fusion

Many spinal conditions — such as degenerative disk disease, scoliosis and spinal stenosis — used to be treated with fusion surgery, in which two or more spinal bones are connected and heal as one bone. The procedure reduces pain but also limits spinal flexibility.

Motion-preserving devices, such as artificial disk replacement, offer alternatives that maintain more natural spinal movement.

Dr. Nassr served as principal investigator at Mayo Clinic in randomized controlled trials that led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the TOPS replacement device, which stabilizes the spine while preserving movement. The device can be used to treat pinched nerves and spondylolisthesis, which is a slippage between two vertebrae.

Mayo Clinic was the first medical center in the U.S. to implant the FDA-approved Minimally Invasive Deformity Correction (MID-C) device to treat scoliosis. 

Dr. Nassr and other researchers are studying next-generation implants designed to replace both the disk and facet joints to maintain natural flexibility.

Robotics and minimally invasive surgery

Surgeries that once required large incisions can now be performed through small openings, reducing postoperative pain, helping patients recover faster and shortening hospital stays.

Conditions such as herniated disks, misalignment of the spine, spinal stenosis or instability can now be treated with a minimally invasive approach.

Robotic-assisted platforms, combined with CT scans and MRI, allow surgeons to plan complex spinal procedures and determine the most precise pathways for implants before surgery begins.

"Advances in robotic-assisted surgery, AI, 3D models and motion-preserving implants are allowing us to treat complex spinal conditions with greater precision and less disruption to back muscles," Dr. Nassr says. "These technologies are changing how spine procedures are performed and can support faster recovery for patients."

Advances in anesthesia, including specialized nerve blocks, also have significantly improved postoperative comfort and shortened hospital stays.

Personalized surgery with 3D models

In complex cases, surgeons can create 3D-printed models of a patient's spine — including nerves and blood vessels — and design custom implants tailored to the person's anatomy. These models allow surgeons to rehearse procedures before the operation and refine surgical planning.

Complex cases — such as advanced adult scoliosis, revision surgery or spinal tumors — often involve a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists and rehabilitation specialists.

AI in spine care

AI is integrated into multiple aspects of spine care at Mayo Clinic. AI-supported tools assist in analyzing clinical data to guide treatment decisions and enhance surgical planning. In research, Dr. Nassr uses AI to better assess bone health and osteoporosis for patients who may need spine surgery.

"Advances in spine surgery enhance patient care as well as our ability to provide more personalized treatments," says Dr. Nassr.

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news.

Media contact:

• Caroline Auger, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu

The post AI, robotics and motion-preserving implants expand spine surgery options for patients appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

PHOENIX — This National Donate Life Month, Mayo Clinic is highlighting how innovation is shaping the future of transplant care.

"Over the last 50 years, transplant safety and outcomes have improved dramatically, making it a successful treatment for many patients. Since joining Mayo Clinic in 1976, I've seen how teamwork, research and high-volume expertise have driven advances," says Sylvester Sterioff, M.D., retired transplant surgeon.

Mayo Clinic performed its first transplant in 1963, marking the start of its pioneering work in transplantation. At that time, surgeons didn't typically specialize in transplants full time. The introduction of improved immunosuppression therapies in the 1980s greatly expanded capabilities, and surgical techniques have progressed from traditional open procedures to today's advanced methods.

"These innovations now allow us to accept a broader range of organs, and preservation techniques have improved considerably," says Dr. Sterioff. "Over the years, I've witnessed success rates in transplantation rise from 35% to over 90%. Mayo Clinic's foundation in collaborative, complex care makes these achievements possible." 

Today, that progress is enabling less invasive options for some transplant patients.

Watch: Inside the Innovation — Robotic-assisted kidney transplant

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:04) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Robotic-assisted transplantation expands possibilities

Now, that legacy continues with robotic-assisted kidney transplantation, a surgical approach available at only a limited number of advanced transplant centers nationwide.

"In robotic-assisted surgery, the surgeon controls every movement, the robot isn't operating on its own," explains Alex Cortez, M.D., a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon. "It's a tool that gives us greater precision and a magnified view, so we can perform highly advanced minimally invasive surgery. With four robotic arms and a nearby console, the surgeon can make finer, steadier motions than the human hand alone. This can also make surgery possible for some patients with more complex cases. And because it's less invasive, patients often have smaller incisions, less pain and a faster recovery."

Robotic systems have come a long way since the first robotic kidney transplant in 2001. Much like smartphones, the optics, technology and access have improved. This efficiency enables surgeons to perform additional procedures, allowing them to assist a greater number of patients. Robotic-assisted surgery still requires extensive training and uses the same core surgical principles. Advanced haptics let surgeons feel tissue resistance and suture tension, improving precision and safety. This reduces tissue harm and complications over visual cues alone, and technology will continue to evolve. 

The future of transplant innovation

Looking ahead, advances in robotics could help make complex transplants and multi-organ transplants less invasive and shape what the next era of transplant medicine looks like.

"I think this is just the beginning. We're able to merge innovation with patient-centered care to provide not only successful transplants, but also allow patients to recover faster and lead to a better quality of life," says Michelle Nguyen, M.D., a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon. "For the first time at Mayo Clinic, we have been able to perform a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant using robotic surgery."  

"Looking to the future, there's a lot of innovation occurring," she adds. "With the introduction of telepresence, the robot’s video camera and microphone allow users to see, hear and interact in a remote environment.” Surgeons from all over the country will be able to watch and learn from Mayo Clinic. There are also opportunities for leveraging the data to then potentially train the robot and other machine learning models to help us make the operation much smoother. "We hope this approach will expand access to care for more patients in the future."

Mayo Clinic is not only advancing today's transplant care, but helping define what comes next. Transplant teams at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Mayo Clinic in Arizona are continuing their work to expand robotic-assisted transplants to other organ groups and the Jacksonville campus at Mayo Clinic in Florida will be including robotics as part of their transplant practice in the near future. These advances would not be possible without the generosity of organ donors, who make lifesaving innovation possible.

Expert sources:

• Alex Cortez, M.D., transplant surgeon, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota 
• Michelle Nguyen, M.D., transplant surgeon, Mayo Clinic in Arizona

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About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news. 

About Mayo Clinic Transplant Center  
Mayo Clinic Transplant Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive transplant programs in the world. With programs in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, Mayo Clinic provides seamless, coordinated care across adult heart, lung, liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation. Guided by a commitment to innovation, research and education, Mayo Clinic Transplant Center delivers world-leading outcomes, compassionate patient care and advances that shape the future of transplantation worldwide. 

Media contact: 

• Carey Stanton, Mayo Clinic Communications, newsbureau@mayo.edu 

The post How innovation is shaping the future of transplant care (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic is using new technology to help with diabetes-related kidney failure.

About 40 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes. Most are able to manage the condition with medication and lifestyle changes.

But in some cases, diabetes, type 1 or type 2, can lead to more serious problems, including chronic kidney disease, even kidney failure, leaving patients with only one option – a pancreas-kidney transplant.

The transplant has been performed for decades. Now, surgeons at Mayo Clinic are performing the transplant robotically. 

Steve Canzoneri shares his life-changing story of becoming Mayo's first patient to undergo a robotic pancreas-kidney transplant.

Watch: Mayo Clinic announces first robotic pancreas-kidney transplant

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:45) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Steve has battled diabetes most of his life. Despite treatment, diabetes still took a toll on his body and over time led to kidney failure.

"I've had some major setbacks with diabetic complications and other things like that," says Steve.

Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot properly control blood sugar levels. In most cases, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the body can't use it effectively. This can damage organs, especially the kidneys, leaving some patients like Steve in need of a pancreas-kidney transplant.

Steve got the transplant he needed at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He also became Mayo's first patient to undergo the procedure robotically.

"Traditionally, this operation involves a very big incision, but with the minimally invasive approach, we're able to offer patients a smaller incision," says transplant surgeon Michelle Nguyen, M.D. "That potentially allows the patient to recover faster, have less pain, have less risk of wound complications and just be able to return to their normal life more quickly."

For the transplant, two surgeons sit at consoles guiding the robot with hand controls. The robot does not replace the surgeon – it enhances precision, accuracy and control. 

"The robot is actually just a tool that we use in the operating room that improves our magnifications, allows us to do a minimally invasive approach," says transplant surgeon Nitin Katariya, M.D. "We are in control the whole time."

Goal of transplant

The transplant is more than just a treatment.

"For many of these patients on insulin, we can try to cure both issues: the kidney disease and what may have caused their kidney disease in the first place, their diabetes. And so we look at kidney-pancreas transplant together as a way to attack both problems and solve both problems," adds Dr. Katariya.

Steve's dad noticed an improvement right away.

"He said to me that I finally sound like his son again," says Steve.

Steve was discharged less than a week after his transplant. 

"He’s recovering very smoothly. He is done with dialysis, his kidney function is pretty much normal now, he is off insulin," says Dr. Nguyen.

For Steve, that means a future free of limitations.

"To be able to live, and travel again, be able to live life, and having that renewed spirit of being able to just do whatever I want–whenever I want–and not be tied down somewhere," says Steve.

Not everyone is a candidate for the robotic pancreas-kidney transplant. Doctors recommend talking to your healthcare team to determine what options are best for you.

Related stories:

• Mayo Clinic surgeons perform first robotic-assisted kidney transplant in Minnesota
• How a pancreas transplant can cure diabetes
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Reasons to be a living kidney donor
• From donation to Kilimanjaro: Living kidney donor defies limits (VIDEO)

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Mayo Clinic in Florida recently performed its first robot-assisted shoulder arthroplasty, marking the arrival of enhanced, precision orthopedic care for patients in the Southeast and bolstering Mayo Clinic's commitment to advancing models of care across the organization.

Shoulder arthroplasties — also known as shoulder replacements — are reserved for patients with shoulder osteoarthritis whose symptoms are not manageable with nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, injections and medications. Shoulder replacements have traditionally been performed using manual instrumentation and surgeon-estimated alignment. While this approach has been effective, it is inherently limited by visual estimation and anatomic variability in patients. 

"What's happened over the past 10 to 15 years in orthopedics is we've started using computer navigation and now robotic assistance," says Dr. Erick Marigi, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon. "In the hip and the knee, they've been doing robot-assisted replacements for years, but for the shoulder (because it’s a smaller complex joint), it's just been harder to develop, until now."

In manual shoulder replacements, surgeons make an incision and use guides to position implants. Though 3D computer planning has been available and is helpful, execution in the operating room has remained manual.

"We're no longer limited by our eyes and using a guide, which has a few millimeters of variance," says Dr. Marigi. "Now it's one degree of variance and under a millimeter of precision."

Another key advantage of robot-assisted shoulder replacements is improved consistency and reproducibility, particularly in complex cases. The technology simplifies procedures for patients with significant bone wear or other challenges that make conventional techniques difficult, allowing surgeons to achieve more predictable results. 

Long-term efficacy data for robot-assisted shoulder replacements are emerging, but evidence from robot-assisted hip and knee replacements is promising. Cases once considered highly complex can now be approached more like standard procedures.

Innovation and integration

Dr. Marigi says the adoption and integration of robot-assisted surgery is a testament to Mayo Clinic's spirit of bridging innovation into action.

"It is the spirit of Mayo Clinic in general: constantly pushing the envelope and providing solutions that help patients," he says.

Dr. Marigi's mentors, Drs. Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo and John Sperling, both orthopedic surgeons at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, laid the foundation for robot-assisted orthopedic surgeries across Mayo Clinic. 

"Collaborative efforts have never been better across Mayo Clinic as a healthcare enterprise," says Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo. "The implementation of robot-assisted shoulder arthroplasty across all campuses allows us to offer the same quality care to all our patients, regardless of geography. It also facilitates lines of collaboration for innovation and research across our institution."

Dr. Sperling, who in April 2024 completed the world's first robot-assisted shoulder surgery, says, "Robotic shoulder arthroplasty has the potential to significantly improve our ability to enhance the quality of care for our patients worldwide."

Later that year, Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo also performed a robotic total shoulder replacement. 

"Our new generations will embrace robot-assisted surgery and enjoy iterative processes through which digital enabling technology will only continue to improve," says Dr. Sanchez-Sotelo.

Among that new generation is Dr. Jeff Hassebrock, an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, who performed the first robot-assisted shoulder replacement in the Southwest, extending the site's leadership in robotic orthopedic surgery. He believes that the intersection of artificial intelligence, preoperative planning and robotic procedural execution will lead to a renaissance in how standard shoulder replacements are performed.

"Mayo Clinic's investments in advanced technologies reflect our commitment to providing innovative, patient-centered care," says Dr. Hassebrock. "Robotics improves the precision and execution of surgical plans that meet the evolving needs of orthopedic care. The era of pre- and postoperative measurement is at hand."

Dr. Marigi believes Mayo Clinic surgeons will continue shepherding this next phase of innovation in orthopedic care. Now, for patients in the Southeast, the technology offers access to innovation closer to home.

"Patients will all have access to this internationally renowned technology locally. That was a big deal for our team," says Dr. Marigi. "I think this is going to be one of our pillars in the future, and the people leading that charge will be Mayo Clinic surgeons."

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