Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a novel surgical robotic system that provides tactile feedback and is capable of single-incision and natural orifice (incision-free) robotic surgery. The system minimizes surgical trauma and is safer than currently available robotic systems.
The new system applies the expertise of systems engineer Professor Yung Kai Leung from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in making precision instruments for outer space, with valuable input on robotic surgery from Professor Yeung Chung Kwong, honorary clinical professor at the University of Hong Kong. They developed a robotic system that has arms driven by internal micromotors and up to ten degrees of freedom in movement. It has been tested in three consecutive animal surgeries: most recently for conducting a one-hour-long gall bladder removal in a live pig.
Currently there is only one dominant surgical robotic system on the market. The system is expensive and has many limitations, including the need for multiple incisions, lack of tactile feedback and bulkiness. Furthermore, it is not designed for natural orifice—or incision-free—robotic surgery. By contrast, the new robotic system can be inserted into a single, small incision or even a natural orifice and expanded inside the human body to perform various surgical operations.
The robotic arms are driven by custommade micromotors adjacent to the end-effectors, allowing them to be operated with high precision and providing good feedback to the surgeon on the amount of force applied.
The team plans to continue to test the new robotic system in animal and cadaver models in more complicated procedures, using a single-incision and natural-orifice approach. Their objective is to apply this system to various robotic surgeries in humans in the near future.
Researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University are experienced in making innovative sophisticated instruments for deep space exploration missions. Their work has led to the production of small-sized, lightweight and high-precision instruments. They are now working on applying these space technologies for civilian purposes. The robotic surgical system is one obvious example of this and they hope it will allow for minimally invasive surgery, enhancing patient well-being.
Learn more: Space technologies improve surgeries back on earth
[osd_subscribe categories=’robotic-surgery’ placeholder=’Email Address’ button_text=’Subscribe Now for any new posts on the topic “ROBOTIC SURGERY’]
The Latest on: Robotic surgery
[google_news title=”” keyword=”robotic surgery” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]- Robotic surgery is the future of kidney transplant
Kidney transplant has been considered the best treatment option for chronic kidney disease patients who are on regular dialysis. The traditional, co ...
- Hospital trains junior doctors in robotic surgery
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust said it was running the UK’s first robotics training programme for junior doctors out of Watford General Hospital. It has also invested in four robots to ...
- Can Robots Make Gallbladder Surgery Safer?
In a retrospective analysis utilizing National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) records, about 3.7% of patients who underwent laparoscopy for gallbladder surgery experienced complications ...
- San Diego’s biggest medical provider is all in on robot-assisted surgery
Sharp HealthCare is among 11 medical providers worldwide to gain early access to the next generation of robot-assisted surgery. While this accomplishment may seem like a one-off upgrade, it actually ...
- Apollo Proton Cancer Centre Announces India’s First Robotic Surgery Program for Ovarian Cancer
South Asia’s first and largest proton therapy announces the launch of the Robotic Surgery Programme for Ovarian Cancers and the successful completion of India’s First Robotic Cytoreductive Surgery (CR ...
via Google News and Bing News