A robotic-assisted patent foramen ovale repair is a type of minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive means that the surgery uses smaller cuts (incisions)Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. A PFO closure is a procedure that can help lower the risk of a stroke for some people. However, it may cause serious complications under certain circumstances. The foramen ovale is a hole in the wall between the left and right atria of every human fetus. This hole allows blood to bypass the fetal lungs. Most people with a patent foramen ovale don't need treatment. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a hole between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. A doctor inserts a medical device through a vein to the PFO.