The Future of Robotic Surgery: A Look at Where We Are

We’re in an exciting time for technological advancement. More than just smart devices developed for our entertainment, technology is revolutionizing the medical industry as well. Since its incipience in the early part of this century, robotic surgery has made incredible advances. The tools that we have available to us now and those that are forthcoming will change the way surgeries are performed in significant and literally life-changing ways.

The da Vinci Surgical System

Most urological surgical procedures are performed using the da Vinci Surgical System. Only about 10 years old, this futuristic looking system comes replete with robotic arms and an endoscopic camera that helps to provide a 3D display. The surgeon monitors her work via the camera and a set of controls to guide the robot. In one hand the robot holds the camera, while its other two hands are reserved for performing the procedure. The surgeon performs her work remotely, guiding the surgical instruments in the robot’s hands.  

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During surgery, necessary incisions lead to scarring and long recovery times. However, with robotic surgery, doctors are able to work less invasively and with greater precision. The motions made by the surgeon remotely are enhanced by the robot as it acts upon those gestures. In other words, the robot is able to grasp what’s intended and make it more precise. Additionally, the camera and 3D display allow doctors to operate in a magnified work space, improving upon their efficiency as well.

Internal Robotics

Another form of surgical robotics seeks to perform surgeries entirely inside the body. Developed mostly to treat diseases like cancer, the idea is to insert the miniature robot directly into the body through a small incision and work from there. This represents the natural evolution in a doctor’s use of micro-cameras to aid in the medical process.

Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot (STAR)

Much like da Vinci, STAR promises expert precision. Designed with incredible sensitivity in its functionality, as suturing requires adaptability to subtle changes in tissue, the accuracy is unparalleled. Taking it one step further, this advancement in robotic surgery is an autonomous one. Able to work on its own, the robot would take over stitching up soft tissues, applying the programmed technique of the industry’s finest. An especially rigorous yet monotonous task, the robot can alleviate a surgeon’s growing fatigue by taking over this work. Still in its trial stage, the future of surgical robotics is already proving to be a huge leap for the industry.