| Medical robotics is the future of science. Though one | | | | heart, as well as enhancing wrist dexterity and control |
| Da Vinci surgical robot costs roughly $1.7 million, | | | | of tiny instruments. This technology allows surgeons to |
| surgeons who have used it say it is both remarkable | | | | make quicker, more controlled and more accurate |
| and revolutionary. "I do a lot of gallbladder surgery," | | | | movements by using the robot arm with its wider |
| explains Dr. Glen Gibson of Annapolis General Hospital. | | | | range of motions. |
| "Operating on livers, stomachs and colons used to be | | | | It also allows more surgeons to perform these |
| stem-to-stern incisions; I have had to take out (only) | | | | procedures, since many of the techniques performed |
| one gallbladder by traditional surgery in the last three | | | | by robot assistants are highly skilled and extremely |
| years." Robotic surgery promises quicker recovery | | | | difficult for humans to master. Now more procedures |
| times, less pain medication and fewer incisions, he | | | | (like artery repair and valve repair) can be done |
| adds. | | | | without long recovery times or bodily injury. |
| Currently there are three types of robotic surgery | | | | The Shared-Control System is the final category of |
| systems: Supervisory-Controlled systems, Telesurgical | | | | robotic surgery devices. In this system, the human |
| systems and Shared-Control systems. | | | | does the bulk of the work, but the robot assists when |
| Supervisory-Controlled systems (a.k.a. Computer | | | | needed. In many cases, the robotic system monitors |
| Assisted Surgery) are the most automated of the | | | | the surgeon, providing stability and support during the |
| three. The surgeon undertakes considerable prep | | | | procedure. Before getting started, the surgeons |
| work, inputs data into the robotic system, plans the | | | | program the robots to recognize safe, close, boundary |
| course of action, takes x-rays, tests the robot's | | | | and forbidden territories within the human body. Safe |
| motions, places the robot in the appropriate start | | | | regions are the main focus of the surgery. |
| position and oversees the robotic action to ensure | | | | Close regions border easily damaged soft tissue and |
| everything goes as planned. The most famous | | | | the boundary is where soft tissue begins. As the |
| prototype is the RoboDoc system developed by | | | | surgeon nears these dangerous areas, the robot |
| Integrated Surgical Systems, which is commonly used | | | | pushes back against the surgeon, or in some cases, |
| in orthopedic surgeries. | | | | when the forbidden zone is reached, the robotic |
| The Telesurgical robotic system is the second type of | | | | system actually locks up to prevent any further injury. |
| device used in modern robotic surgery. The most | | | | Shared-Control systems might work best for brain |
| common variety, the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical | | | | surgeries, where the surgeon provides the action but |
| System, enhances the surgery by providing 3-D | | | | the robot arm steadies the hand. |
| visualization deep within hard-to-reach places like the | | | | |