EPFL: Robot surgeon

2023: Product Announcement

On July 7, 2023, Swiss researchers from the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic School announced the development of the industry's first robotic platform with four manipulators for laparoscopic operations.

Traditionally, robotic surgeons have two "limbs": they can be controlled by medical professionals using hands - using controllers similar to ordinary game joysticks. The new platform provides for the use of two additional manipulators, which surgeons control with the help of legs. At the same time, five degrees of freedom are available.

The first robotic platform with four manipulators for laparoscopic operations has been developed

In particular, with one foot, the doctor can control the position of the endoscopic chamber. The second foot drive serves to control the grip. It is said that such a configuration allows to increase the efficiency of surgical procedures, improve the accuracy of operations and their safety.

The platform provides tactile feedback, which assists surgeons in performing complex interventions. In fact, the system opens up fundamentally new opportunities for doctors in terms of laparoscopic operations. One person can perform tasks that traditionally require the presence of two or even three medical staff.

During operation, the system coordinates its movements with the surgeon's actions through active prediction of the doctor's intentions and adaptive visual tracking of laparoscopic instruments using a camera. Special algorithms are implemented that make it possible to simplify the execution of operations. In particular, if a knot is tied during the suturing procedure, the endoscope can automatically move to the position providing the best view, while the grip can be moved to the side. In general, the new platform will help speed up laparoscopic operations.^[1]

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