1. Robotic Surgery / Edward Apurba Singha
Technology has a profound impact on every phase of human life. Day by day people try to lead a more tech-oriented
life. Nowadays, most of us are concerned with communication technology because it is an inevitable part of our daily
life. Consequently, we pay little attention to the outstanding progress of medical technology. It has been anticipated
that due to the advancement of artificial intelligence and information technology, unprecedented success is imminent in
medical science. Currently it could be said that people increase their performance by handing over some of their
responsibilities to machines. Precisely speaking, human beings start depending on extreme machines called robots. We
have already observed robots deployed in manufacturing plants, space exploration and rescue operations to work side
by with humans. Now robots are being used to inspect the internal components of the human body and are employed
in life saving surgery.
Invention of surgical robots is a breakthrough in modern medical science and further development is underway to
create fully functional robots. First generation surgical robots are not fully autonomous and need human intervention.
These machines still require a human surgeon to operate them and to give them instructions. There are different
methods such as remote control and voice activation by which these surgical robots are controlled.
The underlying reasons to introduce robotics in medical science are precision and to avoid fatalities due to human
error. Medical robots have been used to position an endoscope, perform gallbladder surgery, and correct
gastroesophogeal reflux and heartburn. The ultimate goal of the robotic surgery field is to design a robot that can be
able to perform close-chest heart surgery and minimise the risk. Today several robotic systems are developed to
perform critical body surgery namely da Vinci Surgical System, ZEUS Robotic Surgical System, AESOP Robotic
System, etc.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first robotic system called da Vinci Surgical System on
July 11, 2000. Obviously, this technology developed by Intuitive Surgical embodies some advanced features than its
predecessor. It allows the human surgeon to get closer to the surgical site than human vision will allow, and work at a
smaller scale than conventional surgery permits. The $1 million da Vinci system consists of two primary components:
A viewing and control console, and a surgical arm unit. In gallbladder surgery, da Vinci Surgical System made three
incisions in the patient's abdomen no larger than the diameter of a pencil, which allows for three stainless steel rods to
be inserted. The rods are held in place by three robotic arms. One of the rods is equipped with a camera, while the
remaining two are fitted with surgical instruments that are able to dissect and suture the tissue of the gallbladder.
Unlike conventional surgery, doctors do not touch these instruments directly during operation.
Surgeons at the control console, a few feet apart from the operating table, look into a viewfinder to analyse the 3-D
images captured by the camera inside the patient. The images show the surgical site and the two surgical instruments
mounted on the tips of two of the rods. They resemble a Joystick and the surgical arms, located just under the screen,
are used by the surgeon to manipulate the surgical instruments. Each time one of the surgical arms is moved, a
computer sends an electronic signal to one of the instruments, which moves according to the movements of the
surgeon's hands.
The $ 750,000 ZEUS System made by Computer Motion has a similar setup to that of the da Vinci system. It has a
computer workstation, a video display and hand controls that are used to move the table-mounted surgical instruments.
In the U.S., this system is not permitted to use beyond clinical trials but the German doctors have already used this
system to perform coronary bypass surgery. The ZEUS system employs the assistance of the Automated Endoscopic
System for Optimal Positioning (AESOP) Robotic System. Released by Computer Motion in 1994, AESOP was the
first robot approved by the FDA for assisting surgery in the operating room. AESOP is much simpler than the da
Vinci and ZEUS systems. It's basically just one mechanical arm, used by the physician to position the endoscope-a
surgical camera inserted into the patient. Foot pedals or voice-activated software allows the physician to position the
camera, leaving his or her hands free to continue operating on the patient.
Robotic surgical systems have much significance over traditional surgical process. It cuts down the number of
personnel required to accomplish a surgery. On the other hand, doctors get flexibility to execute their tasks by
operating designated machines and in the same time reduce trauma to the patient. For instance, heart bypass surgery
now requires that the patient's chest be “cracked” open by way of a 1-foot (30.48 cm) long incision. However, with the
da Vinci or ZEUS systems, it is possible to operate on the heart by making three small incisions in the chest, each only
about 1 cm in diametre. Because the surgeon would make these smaller incisions instead of one long one down the
length of the chest, the patient would experience less pain and less bleeding, which means a faster recovery.
Chronological advancement of computer systems unveiled the idea of tele-surgery. As the name implies it involves a
doctor performing delicate surgery miles away from the patient. Robotic systems must respond instantly according to
the doctor's instructions. The systems experienced delay due to the distance, which is the major setback in tele-surgery.
If scientists are to fix this problem, tele-surgery will become the most exciting technology in this century.

2. Define the following the terms:
Tele-surgery
Robotic Surgery
What are the advantages of Robots in medical surgery over traditional/conventional surgical process?
Identify the reasons behind using the Robotic Surgery.
Compare the following robotic systems:
The da Vinci Surgical System
The ZEUS System
AESOP System