Recent advances in medical robotics are fundamentally changing the way we treat and perform surgery. In particular, the da Vinci Surgical System is revolutionizing the field of laparoscopic surgery, increasing efficiency and precision in the medical field.
Recent advances in medical robotics are changing the way we think about treatment and surgery. It’s not just a new technology, but a major driver of paradigm shifts in medicine as a whole. A prime example of this is the famous surgical robot, da Vinci. In less than 20 years of commercialization, the da Vinci has been featured in more than 8,000 papers by 2023, and more than 7,000 units have been sold worldwide to date, despite costing more than $2 million per unit. These numbers are more than just a sign that the machine has sold a lot of units; they are an important indicator of the credibility and need for robotic surgery across the medical community.
The rapid adoption of robotics in medicine has been supported by advances in materials science, dynamics, and medical imaging. In particular, advances in artificial intelligence and big data analysis are also important. Artificial intelligence is being used to optimize surgical plans based on patient data before surgery, increasing the accuracy of surgery. In addition, as robotics technology is highly advanced, the precision of the tasks that machines can perform is exceeding human limits, which is gradually changing the role of doctors.
There are eight main areas in which robotics can be used in medicine. These are neurological applications, orthopedic applications, laparoscopic surgery, catheters, radiotherapy, emergency response, exoskeleton replacement including prosthetic limbs and prosthetic hands, and assisted living and rehabilitation. In many of these areas, robotics doesn’t just replace human labor, it enables treatments and surgeries that were not previously possible. In neurological applications, for example, robotic precision is playing a huge role in surgeries that deal with the complex structures of the brain and spinal cord. These technological advances are especially relevant as we move toward an aging society.
One of the most significant advances in robotics since the 2010s has been in the field of laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is performed by making a number of small incisions in the abdomen, through which instruments such as video cameras are inserted into the abdominal cavity. It is also called minimally invasive surgery because it is performed through a large incision in the abdomen, but nowadays, it is performed through multiple incisions of less than 2 centimeters. Because the incisions are smaller than in the past, the surgical scars are smaller and recovery is faster. In recent years, laparoscopic surgery has been performed for almost all diseases except some cancers, which has greatly increased the demand for human resources capable of performing quick and accurate surgery, as well as the need to develop tools that can be utilized in surgery. At this point, the ability to utilize robots for laparoscopic surgery is a breakthrough solution to both of these issues.
A representative laparoscopic surgical robot is the da Vinci Surgical System. First launched in 1999 by the American company Intuitive Surgical, it follows the traditional surgical method of inserting surgical tools directly into an incision, but instead inserts a surgical camera and a robotic arm, which the surgeon controls remotely from a console several meters away. In particular, the camera of the da Vinci system has the ability to process three-dimensional magnified images, and its high resolution allows for a good surgical field of view and eliminates the surgeon’s fine hand movements. The system also utilizes a robotic arm that can move freely compared to conventional laparoscopic surgical instruments, which helps to achieve precise surgery. In particular, it is possible to make very fine cuts and sutures that are impossible for humans. It also has a very high success rate.
However, the widespread use of the da Vinci Surgical System has raised concerns about the rising cost of surgery and healthcare disparities. Despite the benefits of robotic surgery, it is still not accessible to all patients due to its high cost, especially in areas with limited medical resources or in developing countries. To address these issues, it is therefore necessary to find ways to democratize robotic surgical systems and reduce their cost. For example, technological innovations in the production and operation of the da Vinci system would allow more patients to benefit from it.
Medical robotics is a relatively young field, with many uncharted territories and great potential. Especially as the healthcare industry is considered to be one of the next major industries, the added value that medical robotics can bring to medical activities is expected to be huge. Laparoscopic surgery using a robot is just a system that acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the surgical tools in the existing surgical method, so there are no additional precautions, as long as special attention is paid to hygiene issues such as infection. However, it is very important to ensure that the surgeon receives additional training to operate the machine efficiently, as a malfunction of the machine can have a direct impact on the outcome of the surgery and even life. It is also important to note that if this education and training is not systematic, the risks of robotic surgery can increase.
