Remote Surgical Robot
Remote surgical robots (telesurgical robots) utilize remote sensing and robotics to help surgeons perform surgeries remotely by controlling remote surgical tools and observing real-time images sent from remote surgery room. These robots bring many unprecedented benefits including high accuracy, no distance limit and possibility of extending health services to remote rural areas.
A remote surgical robot system is mainly composed of a master console and a slave robot. Master console consists of a tool simulator, a video display, and a PC. Slave robot includes a robotic arm control system, image processing system and a PC.
A surgeon, sitting in front of master console, uses the tool simulator to perform the surgery with the help of live video feedback. The tool simulator is able to convert the actions of his hand into digital signal which is then sent through network to remote PC. Remote PC processes the received signal and drives robot arm control system to replicate the same action. Robotic arm control system is built with various sensors, MCU/DSC, micro DC motors and motor drivers. A force & haptic sensor is used on surgical tools to detect the strength imposed on patients’ body. The feedback from the sensor is helpful for surgeons to adjust their motion and applied pressure. A video camera captures images of surgery and displays on both local and remote screens so that surgeons on both sides can view details of whole surgery. In order to facilitate communication, audio devices are installed in PCs on both sides.
Currently, remote surgical robots have just started their journey and are improving continually. However, the widespread adoption and use of surgical robots is not far away as robotics keeps developing at a rapid speed.