Clinical Evaluation of a New Camera Holder Robot for Laparoscopic Surgery- Preliminary Results

Introduction & A robot is an electro-mechanical device made to accomplish a defined physical action skillfully and with high precision. Modern advanced robots are capable of doing a wide range of complex predefined functions precisely and repeatedly, without getting tired. Therefore, they are a good alternative when humans are expected to perform such tasks. In this paper the technical and functional features of a new camera holder robot for laparoscopic surgery are described and the results of its preliminary clinical tests are presented. After reviewing the previous experiments, a portable robot capable of gripping the laparoscopic camera, moving at all directions(up, down, left, right, in, and out), and holding the camera steadily at any desired position was designed and developed. It could be controlled by foot pedals or voice commands, alternatively. Preliminary clinical test was conducted on the prototype in different laparoscopic surgeries including cholecystectomy, appendectomy, splenectomy, and inguinal hernia repair, at Imam Khomeini Teaching hospital (Tehran University of Medical Science). During these tests the robot fully replaced the human camera holder, and its functional efficacy was evaluated. Variables, including robot setup time, ease of use, robot’s response to the surgeon’s command(s), precision of movements, provision of optimal view, stability of image, absence of tiredness in long time surgeries, absence of unwanted movement, and absence of incorrect movement were measured that indicated safety, efficacy, and satisfactory function of the robot, which speeded up the course of surgery while facilitating the flow of procedure. Although the setup of the robot takes time and needs some additional work at the start, findings revealed a significant decrease in surgery time in most of operations. Stability of the image, absence of unwanted fine movements and smoothness in changing the view are advantages exclusive to robot. Regarding so, laparoscopic camera holding robot can be a good alternative to its human counterpart. The next step is to simplify the operation of robot through upgrading its software, and conducting a larger randomized clinical study for comparative evaluation of its efficacy.