Robotic Surgery and Its Promise For the Future

Robotic surgery is a promising technology that usesCurrently, robotic applications has evolved even more,
high-tech robots to perform minimally invasive surgery.and has expanded to surgeries performed in cases
This surgery is conducted by inserting a small cameralike prostate cancer, bladder cancer, cardiothoracic
and very small robotic instruments inside the body bytreatments, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery and more.
making two or three small incisions in the desired area.Benefits of Robotic Surgery
The camera provides a precise and clear 3D image toThe use of robotic surgery eliminates the need for
the surgeon who can then manipulate the robotic armssurgeons to be in the same room as the patient. With
and move the instruments in the body of the patientthe help of a video conferencing specialist, surgeons
and perform the surgery.can now perform surgeries with increased precision
History and Current Applicationsand skill as before. This serves as a major advantage
Puma 560 was the first robot used by Kwoh and coin times when doctors on-call is not available to handle
workers in 1985 for a neurosurgical biopsy. The samean emergency case.
was used three years later to perform a transurethralThe other major benefits include the increased
resection of the prostate by Davies and co-workers.flexibility and position of the robotic arms used. This
Since then there have been many advances in theaugments the surgeon's ability to maneuver the tissues
robotic surgery systems with robots being designedwith increased degrees of freedom. The more evident
specifically depending on the type of surgery. The firstbenefit of performing such minimally invasive surgeries
robotic system to be approved by the Food and Drugis the decreased rate of infection as a result of which
Administration (FDA) was ROBODOC, a surgical robotthe patients take less time to recover. Therefore, in the
developed by Integrated Surgical Supplies Ltd.end it works out well for all, doctors, patients and
Since the 1980s, systems scientists have worked hardinsurance agents.
to develop telesurgical robots and devices that can beDrawbacks and Limitations of Robotic Surgery
used to bring surgeons and patients, located in differentThe main factor that has proven to be a major hurdle
parts of world, together. Other successful roboticin the widespread use of robotic surgery is the high
surgery systems that were consequently developedcost factor involved in the initial purchasing along with
include the da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical),its high maintenance cost. Also, as these systems
and the ZEUS robotic surgical system (Computerhave not yet been established fully, there is still a lot of
Motion).scope for optimization and more studies are required
These robotic systems have been used into judge the efficiency of these systems in different
laparoscopic gall bladder surgery, certain chest andsurgeries. Large size of these systems is also a major
cardiotomy procedures as well as bypass surgeries.drawback because it is difficult to accommodate them
These systems allowed the surgeon to manipulate thein a surgical room, along with the other staff.
robotic arms through a computer console and monitor.