The introduction of a new robot for assistance in ophthalmic surgery

TLDR

The robot is compact, hand‑sized, and designed for intraocular micromanipulation to address challenges in treating retinal vein occlusion. This paper presents the design and development of a new robotic system to assist surgeons in ophthalmic surgeries, particularly for intraocular micromanipulation. Its hybrid mechanism enables microscale motions, remains stable amid operating‑room vibrations, and integrates into standard ORs without modifying conventional tools. The system, mountable on the patient’s head, eliminates patient motion and was shown to be compatible with real‑world surgical setups.

Abstract

This paper introduces the design and development of a new robotic system to assist surgeons performing ophthalmic surgeries. The robot itself is very compact and similar to an average human hand in size. Its primary application is intraocular micromanipulation in order to overcome the existing challenges in treatment of diseases like Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO). The novel hybrid mechanism designed for this robot allows microscale motions and is stable in the presence of vibrations common in operation room (OR). The robotic system can be easily integrated into standard operation rooms and does not require modification of conventional surgical tools. This compact microsurgical system is suitable for mounting on the patient's head and thereby, solves the problem of patient motion. The compatibility of the robotic system with a real world surgical setup was evaluated and confirmed in this work.