Switzerland has developed a four-armed robosurgeon
Switzerland has developed a robosurgeon who operates not in two hands like his other "colleagues". According to the developers, thanks to such a device, one specialist will be able to do the work of two or three people.Engineers from the Swiss research institute EPFL have created a new surgical unit, which is equipped with four manipulators instead of the traditional two. One pair (scalpel and retractor) the doctor controls with his hands, and the second (controls the endoscope camera and controls the position of the grip) - with his feet, reported the press service of EPFL.
According to the developers, the system opens up new opportunities for surgeons to perform laparoscopic operations in four hands, allowing one person to perform a task that is usually handled by two or sometimes three people. At the same time, he will not be tired for three people. On the contrary, the system partially "anticipates" the surgeon's actions, which noticeably simplifies manipulation, and offers assistance for more precise tissue grasping, which positively affects the quality of the work performed.
In clinical studies, this approach has been found to reduce the physician's workload, improve their productivity, work speed and coordination of movements during laparoscopic tasks. The researchers shared these observations in an article published in Sage Journals.