TECHNOLOGY IN RELATION TO ROBOTIC SURGERY

Technology in relation to Robotic Surgery

Technology in relation to Robotic Surgery

Introduction

Robotics is the discipline of building and designing electro-mechanical appliances that can be planned to carry out more than one self-sufficient or planned role usually carried out by human. Robots are designed to do tasks that are regarded as too dangerous for humans to do. They are also designed to perform tasks that are deemed too repetitious for humans or needs more precision than can be accurately performed by humans. An example of a well-known robot is the remote manipulator system (RMS), commonly called the Canadarm, used on NASA's space shuttle. This paper discusses the use of technology in relation to robotic surgery.

Discussion

Robotic surgery makes use of robotics and computer-generated images such as CT scans and MRIs. The robots are under the control of software and the surgeon. Through a combination of hardware and software, a robot may be able to “see” via video devices, and to “hear” through microphones using speech recognition software.

Robots, unlike humans, can hold endoscopes and other instruments without becoming tired or shaky. Robots are also used to scale down the surgeon's motions. Some surgeons report that this makes their hands “rock steady,” making surgery on small delicate areas such as the eye safer. Feedback mechanisms allow the robot to determine the proper pressure and tension needed to manipulate a particular object. Robots are able to compare tissue density and thus “decide” whether tissue is normal or a tumor by remembering its “pressure signature.”

Currently, doctors are trying to give robots a delicate sense of touch; the robots will also be able to palpate tissue. To restore the sense of touch to surgeons, a chip containing sixty-four sensors will be inside the patient's body; it will scan the patient. When it encounters a lump, the pressure in a sensor will rise. Outside the patient, the doctor's finger rests on motorized pins that rise or fall according to the sensors. Through the pins, the doctor will feel the object inside the patient's body.

[A robotically-assisted surgical system ]

Currently robotics and MIS are being used in complex surgeries. New computer-controlled systems are making it possible to perform trauma surgery (such as femoral fracture fixation) through quarter inch incisions; one such system has received FDA clearance. Minimally invasive knee and hip replacements are also a possibility. FDA-approved hardware and software will make hip replacement through a tiny incision possible; the software allows the surgeon to have more information by keeping track of the implant and the instruments, and their relation to the patient. The information is given to the surgeon in real time.

New instruments are being developed to make surgery even less invasive. Laprotek is developing flexible, computer-controlled catheters; the surgeon can control them inside the patient. The catheters can carry out suturing. European clinical trials began in May 2003.

One program, eXpert Trainer, attempts to teach the special skills that are needed to perform MIS. The skills include working with long instruments, learning “eye-hand disassociation” ...