Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Surgical Robotics – After our last in-depth look into medical robots, we now turn to how advances in surgical robotics are shaping the future of surgery. Although first successfully used in urology and gynecological procedures, robotic systems are entering various specialties, now most commonly used in thoracic and GI surgeries. In orthopedics, Medtronic’s acquisition of Mezoor quickly catapulted it to market leadership, behind only Intuitive and Johnson & Johnson.

For surgeons, the advantages of these systems include a smaller incision, better control, precision, and access to hard-to-reach areas. However, the field is still evolving in both technology and adoption, especially with surgeons unhappy with the high physical strain and lack of tactile feedback. Advances in sensor technology and artificial intelligence are improving the precision, grip, feedback and autonomy of robotic surgery systems.

Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Surgical Robotics

Emerging robotics companies such as Microbot Medical, makers of single-use robotic systems, are using this technology to meet market needs, challenging the capital-intensive models of established players. Investors are also realizing the opportunity; Funding for robotics surgery companies, such as Vicarious Surgical, boosted record healthcare investment in 2020.

A Cheap, Easy To Use Surgical Robot For The Developing World

The future of robotic surgery is moving toward more usable, intelligent robotic systems that can perform a greater range of procedures. In part one of this series, we explore how advances in imaging, machine learning and robotic end-effectors are enabling robotics companies to better fulfill the early promise of robots in the OR.

Image-guided navigation, which can incorporate imaging from CT scans, ultrasound, or fluoroscopy, is becoming standard in robotic platforms because it provides direct vision of otherwise obscure anatomical structures. Because of the target location in the body, surgeries that were previously impossible are now possible. Navigation is particularly useful during minimally invasive procedures, which restrict the surgeon’s view of the operation field.

In Medtronic’s Mazor platform, for example, 3D cameras map the surgical site for optimal robotic arm movement, which increases accuracy. Robotic cameras can also emit and quantify tissue autofluorescence of reflectance spectra to highlight any subtle surgical pathology for resection.

Multi-modal visualization, where 3D anatomical models are overlaid on live video feeds, represents the state of the art in surgical navigation systems, especially for robotic platforms. This type of visualization, also considered augmented reality for surgery, visualizes lesions or structures that the surgeon would otherwise perceive only by touch. In laparoscopy, AR-techniques have been shown to reduce the surgeon’s cognitive load, thereby improving efficiency. However, current solutions require improved depth perception and more sophisticated tracking to better locate body devices.

Surgical Robotics Market

Johnson & Johnson’s Monarch platform enables physicians to navigate a flexible robotic endoscope through the lung using a handheld controller and image-guidance.

Developments in sensor technology have also led to advances in a complementary technology – artificial intelligence (AI). Some systems, such as the Titan Sport, use automation to position cameras by tracking the surgeon’s gaze or the position of their instruments.

Others, such as the Accuray Cyberknife S7, which launched last year, are fully autonomous. The Cyberknife S7 uses AI to optimize radiation delivery to the patient in real-time. This accuracy improves workflow efficiency and benefits the patient by reducing radiation treatment days and the potential for off-target hazards. Similarly, in knee replacements, autonomous robots can cut bone with greater precision than human surgeons.

It is more difficult for a robot to achieve such precision when autonomously manipulating soft tissue. Semi-autonomous suturing is a ‘grand challenge’ problem in surgical robotics. The STAR robot, a fully autonomous system, includes a custom force-sensitive device for suturing soft tissue and a near-infrared camera that captures soft tissue injected with a fluorescent marker.

Coronavirus Is Showing Us Just How Useful Robotic Surgery Could Be

Intelligent surgical robots with varying degrees of autonomy are proving in early trials to be on par with surgeons in some technical tasks, such as detecting wounds, suturing and removing tumors. The next level of support allows surgeons to perform complex surgeries without worrying about slipping their hands or losing their grip.

The STAR robot autonomously created sutures that were more evenly spaced than those performed by a surgeon, which is a good indicator of suture strength.

The precision of robots compared to humans has given many industries advantages. This is true for robotic surgical systems, and it can reduce surgical errors due to fatigue and impure wound closure.

Repetitive tasks in surgery, such as suturing, are good candidates for robotic devices because the tasks can be broken down into simple, easily defined movements. Procedures that require more skill, such as intestinal anastomosis or heart valve repair, are also good candidates for robotic automation because robots can be designed with more rotational freedom than a human arm. These additional degrees of freedom can be achieved by designing and testing different types of end-effectors, which MANTA engineers have successfully done.

How Robots And Ai Are Creating The 21st Century Surgeon

This increased accuracy promises to reduce processing time. It also expands the range of processes that robots can perform. For example, the first human trials of a robot that performs “supermicrosurgery,” or surgery on 0.3-0.8 mm vessels, are currently underway. While only a small number of surgeons can do this, if the trial is successful, robots will also be able to repair the microvasculature with greater precision and speed.

MUSA, a microsurgical robot from Microsure, has been shown to be safe and effective for suturing blood vessels to reduce lymphedema.

New surgical robotics systems will be able to perform repetitive tasks with greater precision and greater autonomy, freeing surgeons to focus on more complex aspects of the procedure and make more informed surgical decisions. As the surgical robotics landscape evolves rapidly, companies need to make additional distinctions in factors such as usability and user experience. In part two, we’ll look at how advances in sensors, haptics, and ergonomics can improve surgeon interactions with robots as well as patient outcomes.

Our experienced team of researchers, designers and engineers can help you create superior user experience, elegant enclosures and sophisticated electro-mechanical solutions. Get started now. The field of surgical robotics is evolving rapidly. Intuitive Surgical was the first company to market and currently dominates the field, but other large players such as Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, and Stryker are entering the space along with several smaller medical device companies. In Part 2 of our series, we explore how advances in sensor technology, haptics and usability/ergonomics are opening up new possibilities and applications for robotic surgery.

Future Of Surgical Robotics

Small, high-precision sensors used for imaging, force, pressure, torque, and other measurement parameters can be critical to the performance and potential applications of surgical robots. The Manta client Medrobotics Flex robotic system incorporates a high-resolution camera to provide surgeons with 3D high-definition visualization of both the navigation path and the surgical site. Vicarious Surgical is exploring the use of virtual reality headsets with high-resolution cameras to provide surgeons with the perspective of being inside the patient.

Vision sensors along with touch sensors are being used to increase the adaptability and intelligence of surgical robots. D.C. The STAR robot developed by the Children’s National Health System in the US uses touch and vision sensors to detect leaking heart valves. To determine its exact location, the robot repeatedly makes gentle tapping contact with the heart wall. In animal tests this year, the robot successfully navigated from its entry point to the damaged valve area 95% of the time.

And in the lab, researchers at MIT’s MCube Lab, which created the Manta Client Gelsight, are also developing vision-based tactile sensors. These sensors can be used to provide surgeons with high-resolution images of tissue texture and topography.

Surgeons will rely less on traditional direct visualization and tactile interaction as new sensor technology provides enhanced 3D visualization.

The Past, Present And Future Of Robotic Surgery

Haptics, also known as kinesthetic communication or 3D touch, refers to the use of touch to communicate information to users. Haptics typically involve force, vibration, or movement on the user, such as the vibration of a cell phone or game controller. In surgical robotic applications, the haptic feedback provided to the surgeon is typically linked to the output of sensors that are incorporated into the robot components that enter the patient.

Most current robotic-assisted surgery systems lack sufficient and accurate haptic feedback, which surgeons otherwise use to navigate, locate tissue, and measure forces. Such a lack of haptic feedback makes it difficult for the surgeon to maintain precise control without damaging the surrounding tissue. Accordingly, various groups are beginning to incorporate force and other sensors into robotic arms. Haptic enabled sensors require both miniaturization and biocompatibility. In single use applications, these sensors must be very cost effective. In reusable applications, the sensor must be autoclavable / re-sterilizable.

The most notable advance in haptics was made by Mako Surgical (acquired by Stryker for $1.65B). In 2006, the company began offering a robot that provides precise feedback to surgeons repairing arthritic knee joints. More recently, Cambridge Research and Development created a new haptic device that surgeons can wear anywhere on the body that uses linear motion to mimic the sensation of touch.

By adding haptic feedback to force, pressure, torque and other sensors resident in surgical robotic devices, surgeons can obtain more feedback that improves accuracy and skill while reducing patient trauma.

The Future Of Robotics In Healthcare

Ergonomics and comfort are key

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