Robotics

The field of robotics has the potential to drastically alter how we live in the 21st century. We’ve already seen how robots have enabled us to see places that humans are not yet able to visit, such as other planets and the deepest trenches in the ocean. And in the past two decades, thousands of patients already have experienced how the use of robotics in surgery has improved their outcomes, accelerated their recovery, and reduced scarring, pain and discomfort.

But a key factor in helping ensure the robot’s accuracy and effectiveness is power. A robot’s smooth, steady, stable movement is made possible by power generated from motion controllers, motors and batteries. Today, even the steadiest of human hands cannot match those of a surgical robot. In his book, “The Edge of Medicine: Technology that Will Change Our Lives,” William Hanson, M.D., writes:
“While surgeons are supposed to have steady hands, many don’t, and the robot can filter the tremor out of a surgeon’s movement which can be extremely useful in delicate applications where fine control is critical, such as sewing small vessels or nerves together. The robot also can be programmed to scale movements, typically down, so that a 1-centimeter movement of the surgeon’s fingers is translated, for example, to a quarter-centimeter movement of the robotic hand.”¹

In addition, carefully powered robots can help surgeons minimize the strain on their own bodies associated with performing surgery. As previously mentioned, applying power to surgical procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, has helped surgeons prevent conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome caused by cumulatively repetitive movements. But even powered instruments still require that the surgeon physically hold the device when performing surgery. With innovations in powered robotics, robots can perform the most physically strenuous parts of the procedure while the surgeon supervises. For a hip or knee replacement, this might entail drilling existing bone, fitting an implant into the new joint, and setting screws.

Called supervisory-controlled robotic surgery, this type of surgery is the most automated. However, just because the robot performs the surgery does not mean that they do so without any human guidance. In fact, surgeons must do extensive prep work with surgery patients before the robot can operate.²
In the article “How Robotic Surgery Will Work,” the authors make the following observation:
“Supervisory-controlled systems follow a specific set of instructions when performing a surgery. The human surgeon must input data into the robot, which then initiates a series of controlled motions and completes the surgery. There’s no room for error—these robots can’t make adjustments in real time if something goes wrong. Surgeons must watch over the robot’s actions and be ready to intervene if something does not go as planned.”³

Supervisory-controlled robotic surgeries are likely to increase in 2013 and beyond as they can be very precise, resulting in reduced trauma and shorter recovery periods for the patient. And because the surgeries only are supervised by the surgeon—not performed by them—a surgeon reduces surgery-related wear and tear on their own body.

The possible applications of robotic surgery are as extensive as the uses of minimally invasive surgery. Robotic surgery already has become a successful option in orthopedic, urological, gynecological, cardiothoracic and numerous general surgical procedures.