Biomedical Robotics for Healthcare

Recently, a robotic system was developed in the biomedical field to support minimally invasive surgery. The popularity of minimally invasive surgery has surged rapidly because of endoscopic procedures. In endoscopic surgery, surgical procedures are performed within a body cavity and visualized with laparoscopy or thoracoscopy. Since the initial laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1987, the implications for endoscopic procedures have continuously expanded, and endoscopic surgery is currently the standard for an increasing number of operations. Advances in laparoscopic surgery have led to less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and an earlier return to work for many patients. However, performing laparoscopic procedures requires several skills that have never been required for conventional open surgery. The surgeon needs to coordinate his/her eyes and hands and acquire a skillful manner using long-shaft instruments as well as mentally interpret a two-dimensional environment as a three-dimensional one. Because learning such skills is stressful for most surgeons, performing a laparoscopic procedure is more physically and mentally demanding than performing an open procedure.