Robotic Systems for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy

Minimally invasive surgery and interventional procedures have seen rapid advancement as one of leading trend in medical technology innovation for its distinguished clinical benefit for patient. Robotic systems and technologies have made remarkable contribution to the innovation enabling various innovative devices and procedures including robotic laparoscopic surgery assist system. While robotic systems to assist general surgery seem to become mature technology, robotic systems for interventional procedures and neurological surgery are newly emerging. The minimally invasive procedures have inherent limitations and constraints that make human operation difficult or less optimal. Various medical imaging modalities are utilized as visual sensor for the procedures and each has limitations such as radiation exposure, resolution and sensitivity, real-time imaging capability, electromagnetic interference and etc. Tiny and complex tissue structure through which devices for the minimally invasive procedures perform diagnostic or therapeutic operation is another major limiting condition in terms of dexterity or precision. Robotic systems that converge various electro-mechanical engineering and computer science technologies facilitate human physician overcoming these limitations and achieving better clinical outcome for patient. Computed tomography (CT) or ultrasound guided biopsy is one of long researched applications for robotic system utilization. Several robotic systems for cardiac intervention and neurological surgery are already available for clinical use. The clinical efficacy of the robotic technologies needs further study including large scale randomized clinical study and safety issue with the use of robotic system either in assist or automation manner also need more research. It seems increasingly clear that robotic system technologies will continuously provide answers to many of unmet clinical needs in minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy.