A new robotic system for the operating theatre

Abstract

Robotic systems in surgical environments are becoming an increasingly common research area and a clinical reality. New standards and new results are expected from this branch of robotic applications, and revolutionary changes in the operating theatre are not too far away. This article describes the development of a new robot prototype, which combines the high reliability and safety of custom-designed electronics and controls with a new mechanical design delivering high-precision positioning and safe interaction with the surgical environment. The robotic system has been tested in vitro in laboratory simulations and has shown promising results during robot-assisted total knee replacement, thus indicating possible new surgical procedures in orthopaedic reconstruction.