Dexterous miniature robot for advanced minimally invasive surgery

Amy C. Lehman, Nathan A. Wood, Shane Farritor, Matthew R. Goede, Dmitry Oleynikov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a miniature robot to perform complex, single-incision, minimal access surgery. Instrument positioning and lack of triangulation complicate single-incision laparoscopic surgery, and open surgical procedures are highly invasive. Using minimally invasive techniques with miniature robotic platforms potentially offers significant clinical benefits. A miniature robot platform has been designed to perform advanced laparoscopic surgery with speed, dexterity, and tissue-handling capabilities comparable to standard laparoscopic instruments working through trocars. The robotic platform includes a dexterous in vivo robot and a remote surgeon interface console. For this study, a standard laparoscope was mounted to the robot to provide vision and lighting capabilities. In addition, multiple robots could be inserted through a single incision rather than the traditional use of four or five different ports. These additional robots could provide capabilities such as tissue retraction and supplementary visualization or lighting. The efficacy of this robot has been demonstrated in a nonsurvival cholecystectomy in a porcine model. The procedure was performed through a single large transabdominal incision, with supplementary retraction being provided by standard laparoscopic tools. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a dexterous robot platform for performing single-incision, advanced laparoscopic surgery.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-123
Number of pages5
JournalSurgical endoscopy
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011

Keywords

  • In vivo
  • Laparoscopy
  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Robots
  • Single incision

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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