Computer Aided Surgery · 2001 · 193 citations · 20 references
EngineeringNeurosurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryMedical RoboticsRobot DesignRoboticsHuman-robot Interaction In HealthcareImage-guided RoboticsMedical Robot DynamicsMedical Robot KinematicsRobot-assisted SurgerySurgical RoboticsControl Of Surgical RobotsControl System ArchitectureHuman-robot Interaction In SurgeryMedical ManipulatorsRobotic NeurosurgeryRobotic Surgical SystemsSurgical Robot DesignUser Interface Integration
Medical robotics remains an emerging field with limited clinical adoption and has not yet reached critical mass. This review surveys the history of medical robotics and summarizes the clinical applications of surgical robots. The article discusses robotic applications across neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, maxillofacial surgery, radiosurgery, ophthalmology, and cardiac surgery, and identifies key technology challenges such as system architecture, software, mechanical design, imaging integration, user interface, and safety.
Although it has been over 15 years since the first recorded use of a robot for a surgical procedure, the field of medical robotics is still an emerging one that has not yet reached a critical mass. Although robots have the potential to improve the precision and capabilities of physicians, the number of robots in clinical use is still very small. In this review article, we begin with a short historical review of medical robotics, followed by an overview of clinical applications where robots have been applied. The clinical applications are then discussed; they include neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, maxillofacial surgery, radiosurgery, ophthalmology, and cardiac surgery. We conclude with a listing of technology challenges and research areas, including system architecture, software design, mechanical design, imaging compatible systems, user interface, and safety issues.
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