Harnessing the power of magnets to perform complex procedures with minimal invasion
Imagine a surgeon performing a complex abdominal operation without making multiple large incisions. Instead of several surgical instruments protruding from the body, some tools are controlled from outside by an invisible force that passes harmlessly through skin and tissue.
This isn't science fiction—it's the reality of magnetic surgery, a revolutionary approach that's transforming how we perform minimally invasive procedures. By harnessing the fundamental physical properties of magnets, surgeons can now manipulate internal organs, create connections between tissues, and guide cameras with unprecedented precision while further reducing the trauma of surgery.
Harnessing magnetic forces for surgical precision
Reducing surgical trauma and improving recovery
Blending physics with medical science
This technology revolutionizes how surgeons join hollow structures like blood vessels, bile ducts, or segments of esophagus. Traditional methods require sutures or staples that penetrate tissue, which can lead to complications like leakage or infection 1 .
Magnetic compression offers an elegant alternative through sustained magnetic attraction. Specially designed magnets are positioned on either side of the tissue to be connected. The constant magnetic pressure gradually causes the tissue between them to naturally fuse together while the compressed tissue eventually sloughs away, creating a seamless anastomosis (connection) without a single stitch 1 .
The Magnetic Anchoring and Guidance System (MAGS) addresses one of the fundamental challenges of minimally invasive surgery: the need for multiple incisions to accommodate various instruments .
MAGS technology elegantly solves this problem by using coupled internal and external magnets. The internal surgical instrument is placed inside the body through a single incision. An external magnet positioned on the skin surface securely anchors and controls this internal tool through magnetic attraction across the abdominal wall .
This approach effectively creates "incisionless" surgical instruments that can be repositioned as needed throughout the procedure.
Visualization of key benefits compared to traditional methods
The development of magnetic surgery follows a compelling trajectory from theoretical possibility to clinical reality.
First reported clinical application by Dominguez using magnets to retract gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy .
First prospective clinical trial of Magnetic Surgical System (MSS) established safety and feasibility in 50 patients undergoing gallbladder surgery 3 .
Publication of initial clinical trial results demonstrated successful reduced-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy 3 .
Publication of "Magnetic Surgery" textbook consolidated knowledge and standardized practices 5 .
First prospective trial of robotic magnetic platform combined magnetic surgery with robotic control 7 9 .
AI-guided autonomous surgical camera using magnetic platform introduced artificial intelligence to magnetic surgical systems 6 .
The earliest applications focused on relatively simple tasks like gallbladder retraction , but the technology quickly evolved to support more complex procedures. The successful initial human trials paved the way for broader adoption and refinement of the technology.
While many experiments and case reports contributed to the development of magnetic surgery, one landmark study particularly stands out for establishing its safety and feasibility in human patients.
Between January 2014 and March 2015, researchers conducted a prospective, multicenter clinical trial at three hospitals in Chile to evaluate the Magnetic Surgical System (MSS) developed by Levita Magnetics 3 .
The trial enrolled 50 patients with benign gallbladder disease who were scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) 3 . The experimental approach utilized a reduced-port technique—instead of the standard four incisions, procedures were performed with just three ports 3 .
The outcomes of this landmark trial were overwhelmingly positive. All 50 procedures were successfully completed using the magnetic system without requiring conversion to additional ports or open surgery 3 .
Most significantly, no device-related serious adverse events were reported, establishing an important safety profile for this emerging technology 3 . Surgeon assessments of the system's performance were notably favorable, with 90% rating the exposure of the surgical site as "excellent" 3 .
| Attribute | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Patients | 50 |
| Female:Male Ratio | 45:5 |
| Average Age | 39 years (range: 18-59) |
| Average BMI | 27.0 kg/m² (range: 20.4-34.1) |
| Average Abdominal Wall Thickness | 2.6 cm (range: 1.8-4.6) |
| Primary Diagnosis | 43 gallstones, 7 gallbladder polyps |
| Outcome Measure | First Human Trial (2016) 3 | Robotic Platform Trial (2022) 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure Success Rate | 100% (50/50 patients) | 100% (30/30 patients) |
| Device-Related Serious Adverse Events | 0% | 0% |
| Adequate Visualization/Retraction | 100% | 100% |
| Types of Procedures | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy | Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gastric sleeves, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass |
The implementation of magnetic surgery requires specialized equipment designed specifically for medical applications.
| Component | Function | Real-World Example |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Permanent Magnets (IPMs) | Placed inside body; serve as attachment points or active instruments | Ring-shaped Nd2Fe14B magnets in anchoring systems 2 |
| External Permanent Magnets (EPMs) | Manipulated outside body; control internal components through magnetic coupling | Cylindrical magnets (35mm diameter, 20mm length) 2 |
| Magnetic Grasper with Detachable Tip | Provides tissue grasping and retraction without permanent connection to external instrument | Levita's Magnetic Surgical System grasper 3 |
| Robotic Manipulator Arms | Provide precise control of external magnets with multiple degrees of freedom | Levita Robotic Platform with 7-degree-of-freedom arms 7 |
| Cable-Driven Transmission Systems | Transfer motion from motors to manipulator joints while maintaining compact design | Magnetic anchored cable-driven surgical forceps 2 |
| Ferrofluid Nanoparticles | Microscopic magnetic particles for diagnostic and therapeutic applications | BioMagnetic Solutions' 150nm particles for cell separation 4 |
The materials used in these systems must meet stringent medical standards, including biocompatibility to prevent tissue reaction, corrosion resistance to withstand the internal body environment, and sufficient magnetic strength to maintain reliable coupling across tissue barriers 2 .
In 2025, researchers in Chile performed the world's first procedure using an AI-guided autonomous surgical camera based on the MARS platform 6 . This system can automatically maintain optimal visualization of surgical instruments without manual camera control.
Recent clinical trials of the Levita Robotic Platform demonstrate the benefits of combining magnetic instrumentation with robotic control, enabling reduced-port approaches for both cholecystectomy and bariatric procedures 7 .
Research is exploring applications in even more complex scenarios, including cardiac procedures, neurosurgery, and fetal interventions. The ability to manipulate instruments without physical connections offers particular advantages in confined anatomical spaces.
"The integration of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and novel materials suggests that we are merely at the beginning of exploring magnetism's potential in medicine."
Visualization of potential growth areas and specialties
Magnetic surgery represents far more than a technical novelty—it exemplifies how interdisciplinary thinking can revolutionize established practices.
From its early applications in gallbladder procedures to its current expansion across surgical specialties, magnetic technology has consistently demonstrated the triple benefit of reduced trauma, improved precision, and enhanced recovery. The successful clinical trials and growing adoption testify to its practical value in diverse surgical scenarios.
Perhaps most excitingly, this field continues to evolve at an accelerating pace. The integration of artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and novel materials suggests that we are merely at the beginning of exploring magnetism's potential in medicine.
Procedures with less pain and faster return to normal life
Enhanced capabilities and new solutions to old challenges
Another step toward maximal therapeutic benefit with minimal intervention