Vitestro claims that the device was validated clinically for safety and comfort in more than 4,000 individuals. Credit: Vitestro / PRNewswire.
Netherlands-based medical robotics company Vitestro has unveiled Aletta, claimed to be the “world’s first” Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device (ARPD), designed for blood collection.
Named after the Netherlands’ first female doctor, Aletta Jacobs, the device is claimed to “optimise” blood draws and allows phlebotomists and nurses to spend more time focusing on patient care while alleviating shortages of healthcare staff.
Vitestro commercial director and co-founder Brian Joseph said: “The name Aletta fosters a human connection with both healthcare professionals and patients—making Aletta more than just technology.
“Patients and healthcare staff will interact with Aletta every day, and we want them to see her as an integral part of the phlebotomy team. By working alongside trained medical personnel, Aletta enhances precision and efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience and the highest quality of care for every patient.”
Aletta’s advanced features include an AI-driven Doppler ultrasound and imaging technology for accurate vein detection; a robotic-controlled needle insertion ensuring consistent and precise blood draws; and a fully automated blood collection to minimise variability and reliance on human intervention.
Vitestro noted that the device was validated clinically for safety and comfort in more than 4,000 individuals, with reported pain levels comparable to or lower than manual blood collection. It is claimed to fit into lab and hospital workflows.
After the device’s CE marking and first European commercial launch, the company is focusing on the device’s wider adoption in labs and hospitals.
In partnership with healthcare systems and academic medical centres, Vitestro is carrying out a multi-centre trial in the US. It is also working for US regulatory approval – the device is yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In April 2023, the company [signed an agreement](https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/news/vitestro-autonomous-blood-drawing-devices/) with healthcare provider OLVG Lab for the supply of its multiple autonomous blood-drawing devices.