A surgical robot with vision field control for single port endoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND: Robotic end-effectors for single port endoscopic surgery (SPS) require a manual change of vision field that slows surgery and increases the degrees of freedom (DOFs) of the manipulator. METHODS: A new surgical prototype robot has dynamic vision field control and a master controller to manipulate the endoscopic view. It uses positioning (4 DOF) and sheath (2 DOF) manipulators for vision field control, and dual tool tissue manipulators (gripping, 5 DOF; cautery, 3 DOF). RESULTS: The robot is feasible in vitro. 'Cut and vision field control' (using tool manipulators) was suitable for precise cutting tasks in risky areas; 'cut by vision field control' (using the vision field control manipulator) was effective for rapid macro cutting of tissues. A resection was performed using a combination of both methods. CONCLUSIONS: The novel robotic system is feasible, but further studies are needed to address its performance in vivo.