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Robotic Surgery

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Institutional Affiliation

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Robotic Surgery

Introduction

Technological revolution has continuously revolutionized the biomedical field. The

integration of technology in the medical field has increased the efficiency and effectiveness of

the healthcare service providers to provide quality patient outcomes. As such, robotic surgery has

enhanced precision in surgical procedures with minimal mistakes. For instance, Takács et al.

(2016) state that robotic surgery has enhanced fewer complications in the surgery in site

infections, less blood loss and speedy recovery. Robotic surgery involves a robotic assisting

procedure that is implemented by surgeons when performing complex procedures to their

patients. The use of robotic surgery was discovered to be flexible and with more precision since

it is associated with minimal invasive surgery strategies executed via tiny incisions (Panesar et

al., 2016). Although the use of robotic surgery is costly and requires a high investment cost to

develop a robot, patients who undergo robotic surgery experience less pain, are not at the risk of

infection, and excessive loss of blood. The main reasons for reviewing the robotic surgery

technology is to determine whether the use of robotics for surgery is an efficient method of

performing surgeries and also determine new concepts that should be implemented to ensure that

the use of robotic surgery can be effective in performing all kinds of surgeries.

Critical Discussion

The evolution of robotic surgery dates back to the integration of technology in the

medical field. This has supported the use of tele-surgical equipment in the world. As technology

advances, more potential opportunities for use of robotic surgery continue to emerge. There are

notable recent advances in robotic technology. For instance, the development of the building

blocks in tele-surgical practices has continued to enhance the quality of surgical procedures in
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the biomedical field. With the increased technology in the communication, healthcare service

providers will use robotic surgery to advance the use of cameras in theater rooms to

communicate with their teams during a surgical practice. Dwivedi and Mahgoub (2012) maintain

that the introduction of building blocks in robotic surgery gas remained a critical invention in the

performance of small incisions in the area of interest and this promotes quality patient outcomes.

This implies that the history of robotic surgery has continued to expand the scope of its

application.

A study by Graur et al., (2016) concluded that robotic surgery remains a key invention in

the field of medicine. The application of robots in future in bright. For example, with the

development of artificial intelligence, the use of robotics will be diversified not only in the

healthcare industry but also other economic sectors in the end (Graur et al., 2016;Panesar et al.,

2016). The continuous invention in the industry has seen a great milestone in the categorization

of the robotic surgery into two main groups, autonomous or tele-operated robots. In addition,

there is another less commonly used classification of robotic surgery that of the medical branch

where the robots are used: urology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, general surgery (Graur et al.,

2016). This has provided an opportunity for medical healthcare service providers to expand the

scope and application of robotic surgery in their practice.

Importance of Robotic Surgery

Robotic surgery is a minimally invasive technique that employs computer-controlled

robots to execute tasks that humans are incapable of. It's easy to see why and remember how

chubby human hands are compared to a robot's (Raynetta Stansil, 2019). Robotic hands may be

made smaller while maintaining a high level of flexibility, enabling them to move in tight spaces

inside the body.

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Furthermore, in medicine, mechanical elements are combined with feedback-controlled

movements to provide much greater results than a human hand. As a result, doctors have a lot of

freedom to do anything they wish while preventing tissue harm (Raynetta Stansil, 2019). Though

there are many different types of robotic surgery, a large percentage of them involve a surgeon

seated at a special console with hand and foot controls that enable them to operate surgical

instruments connected to robotic arms remotely and precisely. Modifications can even alter the

robot's activity size.

For example, if the robot's arm tip raises one inch for every three inches the surgeon's

hand travels, the three-to-one ratio implies the robot's arm tip rises one inch. Via a tiny incision,

a portable 3D device is implanted into the client, showing an accentuated 360° view of the

surgical area on a high-resolution frame, effectively placing the patient within the camera

(Raynetta Stansil, 2019). A second physician or surgical technician will be stationed to ensure

that the surgical instruments are correctly positioned and working at the client's order.

These devices' benefits are several, so they eliminate most of the challenges associated

with laparoscopic surgery. They also aid dexterity, hand-eye coordination, ergonomic alignment,

and visualization. Furthermore, these devices allow surgeries that were seemingly unimaginable

or too complex to conduct.

Dexterity is supported by robotic robotics in a variety of respects. Surgical tools with a

large degree of independence greatly improve the surgeon's capacity to handle instruments and

tissues. These instruments correct the surgeon's tremor on end-effector motion using suitable

hardware and software filters (Chapman, 2002). Besides, these devices can scale movements,

enabling massive trigger grips to be converted into micro-motions inside the patient.
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Another significant benefit is the restoration of good hand-eye coordination and an

ergonomic posture. The fulcrum effect is eliminated in these robotic systems, allowing

instrument handling more intuitive (Chapman, 2002). Present technology removes the surgeon's

need to move and move in uncomfortable ways to adjust instruments and imagine the display

because they sit at a distance, ergonomically built workstation.

According to certain sources, these devices have excellent improved vision. The 3-

dimensional viewpoint and depth perception vastly improve normal laparoscopic camera views.

As a result, a healthy visual condition with greater magnification and maneuverability is

beneficial to the surgeon. These aspects result in higher-resolution images, which, when coupled

with the surgeon's improved degrees of freedom and versatility, significantly improve the

surgeon's capacity to recognize and view anatomic structures and establish micro-anastomoses

(Chapman, 2002).

Robotic surgery will continue to grow and expand due to the many new advantages of

robotic-assisted surgery. The Zeus and da Vinci systems, for instance, have sophisticated

controls and multiple degrees of independence, allowing for increased stability and no tremor

without impacting the visual field, allowing for micro anastomosis (Contemp Surg., 2001). As

several have found out, robotic networks are information structures. Most of those technologies

already in use in the operating room may be connected and integrated. These specifics are also

used to learn complex techniques before their execution.

Because of the design of robotic technologies, lengthy intraoperative planning or

instruction and potential tools for teaching and studying young surgeons by mentoring and

simulation might be possible. SOCRATES is being offered by Computer Motion, the company

behind the Zeus robotic surgical machine (Contemp Surg., 2001). This computer enables
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surgeons in distant locations to link to an operating room, exchange video and audio, view the

AESOP endoscopic camera, and show anatomy using a "telestrator."

There is also a lot of technology work to be performed before robotic surgery reaches its

maximum potential. Despite their increased agility, these devices cannot reach their maximum

capacity in instrumentation and sensory feedback. There is a need for more conventional

machine tools as well as energy-directed tools (Contemp Surg., 2001). With the advancement

and usage of ultrasonography, near-infrared, and confocal microscopy instruments, some

researchers suggest that robotic surgery can be expanded into the field of advanced diagnostic

science.

Robotic surgery has also proven to be very useful, even though it is still in its early

stages, especially in areas where traditional laparoscopic procedures are impossible. It is unclear

if robotic robots may replace traditional laparoscopic equipment in less technically sophisticated

practices. In either scenario, robotic surgery can transform medicine by refining and extending

laparoscopic techniques, developing medical research, and ushering surgery into the modern era.

Furthermore, robotic surgery has the ability to go beyond what humans may do in terms

of surgical recovery. Although there is more to be sorted out, it must be decided if the

application's value outweighs the cost of implementation. Even though efficacy has been shown

in part, further prospective randomized trials assessing efficacy and safety are required. Until

robotic surgery may be performed, further research is needed to determine if it is cost-effective

or has a true advantage over traditional treatment.

Disadvantages of Robotic Surgery

There are many drawbacks to these schemes. First, robotic surgery is a relatively recent

technology, and its applications and effectiveness are yet to be fully developed. To date, the
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majority of feasibility experiments have been completed, with almost no long-term follow-up

studies. Many processes would have to be redesigned to maximize the performance of robotic

weapons. However, these flaws can most definitely be overcome over time.

The cost of these devices is another downside. Their price tag of a million dollars makes

them almost unaffordable. It's anyone's guess whether the price of these systems would decline

or increase. Some claim that as technology advances and more expertise with robotic systems is

obtained, the price will drop (Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech., 2002). Others claim that

technological advancements such as haptics, faster processing rates, and increasingly

sophisticated and capable applications would drive up these systems' price (Contemp Surg.,

2001).

Another thing is the cost of infrastructure improvements; how often will hospitals and

healthcare facilities spend on maintenance and how frequently they will have to do so? In either

case, many agree that extensive multidisciplinary usage is needed to support these systems'

procurement (Contemp Surg., 2001).

Another downside to these devices is their size. Both platforms have a huge footprint and

clumsy robotic limbs. In today's already cramped operation spaces, this is a significant downside

(Contemp Surg., 2001). Both the medical staff and the robot may have trouble fitting into the

operating space. Some believe that shrinking robotic arms and instruments can solve the issues

that come with their current scale. Others claim that to meet the additional room needs of robotic

surgical systems, bigger operation suites with many booms and wall mountings would be

needed. The expense of preparing space for these robots and the robots themselves make this a

very costly technology.

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A shortage of suitable instruments and facilities is one of the possible drawbacks found.

The dependence on tableside assistants to conduct part of the surgery is increased due to a lack

of such equipment (Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech., 2002). This is a temporary limitation

since emerging innovations have developed and will continue to emerge to overcome these

flaws.

The majority of the listed drawbacks will be addressed with time and technological

advancements. Only time will say if the expense of these devices is justified. Suppose the

expense of these devices is large because they do not lower the cost of routine procedures. In that

case, it is doubtful that a robot would be included in any operating room and thus utilized for

routine procedures.

Conclusion

The present study discusses the role of robotic surgery in the biomedical field. The

integration of technology in the medical field has increased the efficiency and effectiveness of

the healthcare service providers to provide quality patient outcomes. As such, robotic surgery has

enhanced precision in surgical procedures with minimal mistakes. Some of the important areas

that the robotic surgery has been applied include the performance of minor and major surgeries

in healthcare facilities. Robots in the medical field have increased quality patient outcomes. Even

though efficacy has been shown in part, further prospective randomized trials assessing efficacy

and safety are required. Until robotic surgery may be performed, further research is needed to

determine if it is cost-effective or has a true advantage over traditional treatment. This study

argues that with continued innovation in technology, the future of robotic surgery bright and will

be used to improve medical practice.

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References

Barlas, Z. (2019). When robots tell you what to do: Sense of agency in human- and robot-guided

actions. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/mqfv7

Dwivedi, J., & Mahgoub, I. (2012, May). Robotic surgery: a review on recent advances in

surgical robotic systems. In Florida Conference on Recent Advances in Robotics (pp. 10-

11).

Graur, F., Radu, E., Al Hajjar, N., Vaida, C., & Pisla, D. (2016, July). Surgical Robotics—Past,

Present and Future. In International Workshop on Medical and Service Robots (pp. 159-

171). Springer, Cham.

Hoeckelmann, M., Rudas, I. J., Fiorini, P., Kirchner, F., & Haidegger, T. (2015). Current

capabilities and development potential in surgical robotics. International Journal of

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Jun, M. S., Liu, W., Dy, G. W., Meng, X., & Zhao, L. C. (2020). Robot-assisted Laparoscopic

posterior Urethroplasty using the Da Vinci single Port

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Jun, M. S., Liu, W., Dy, G. W., Meng, X., & Zhao, L. C. (2020). Robot-assisted Laparoscopic

posterior Urethroplasty using the Da Vinci single Port

robot. Videourology, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.1089/vid.2019.0095

Long, E., & Kew, F. (2017). Patient satisfaction with robotic surgery. Journal of Robotic

Surgery, 12(3), 493-499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-017-0772-3

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Panesar, S., Cagle, Y., Chander, D., Morey, J., Fernandez-Miranda, J., & Kliot, M. (2019).

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Takács, A., Nagy, D. Á., Rudas, I., & Haidegger, T. (2016). Origins of surgical robotics: From

space to the operating room. Acta Polytechnica Hungarica, 13(1), 13-30.

Yuan, J., & Yang, X. (2018). AB013. Strategy and advantages of robot-assisted laparoscopic

surgery for renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Translational

Andrology and Urology, 7(S5), AB013-AB013. https://doi.org/10.21037/tau.2018.ab013

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