Recent Advances in Soft Biological Tissue Manipulating Technologies

Biological soft tissues manipulation, including conventional (mechanical) and nonconventional (laser, waterjet and ultrasonic) processes, is critically required in most surgical innervations. However, the soft tissues, with their nature of anisotropic and viscoelastic mechanical properties, and high biological and heat sensitivities, are difficult to manipulated. Moreover, the mechanical and thermal induced damage on the surface and surrounding tissue during the surgery can impair the proliferative phase of healing. Thus, understanding the manipulation mechanism and the resulted surface damage is of importance to the community. In recent years, more and more scholars carried out researches on soft biological tissue cutting in order to improve the cutting performance of surgical instruments and reduce the surgery induced tissue damage. However, there is a lack of compressive review that focused on the recent advances in soft biological tissue manipulating technologies. Hence, this review paper attempts to provide an informative literature survey of the state-of-the-art of soft tissue manipulation processes in surgery. This is achieved by exploring and recollecting the different soft tissue manipulation techniques currently used, including mechanical, laser, waterjet and ultrasonic cutting and advanced anastomosis and reconstruction processes, with highlighting their governing removal mechanisms as well as the surface and subsurface damages

Flexible robotic device for spinal surgery

Surgical robots have proliferated in recent years, with well-established benefits including: reduced patient trauma, shortened hospitalisation, and improved diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcome. Despite these benefits, many challenges in their development remain, including improved instrument control and ergonomics caused by rigid instrumentation and its associated fulcrum effect. Consequently, it is still extremely challenging to utilise such devices in cases that involve complex anatomical pathways such as the spinal column. The focus of this thesis is the development of a flexible robotic surgical cutting device capable of manoeuvring around the spinal column. The target application of the flexible surgical tool is the removal of cancerous tumours surrounding the spinal column, which cannot be excised completely using the straight surgical tools in use today; anterior and posterior sections of the spine must be accessible for complete tissue removal. A parallel robot platform with six degrees of freedom (6 DoFs) has been designed and fabricated to direct a flexible cutting tool to produce the necessary range of movements to reach anterior and posterior sections of the spinal column. A flexible water jet cutting system and a flexible mechanical drill, which may be assembled interchangeably with the flexible probe, have been developed and successfully tested experimentally. A model predicting the depth of cut by the water jet was developed and experimentally validated. A flexion probe that is able to guide the surgical cutting device around the spinal column has been fabricated and tested with human lumber model. Modelling and simulations show the capacity for the flexible surgical system to enable entering the posterior side of the human lumber model and bend around the vertebral body to reach the anterior side of the spinal column. A computer simulation with a full Graphical User Interface (GUI) was created and used to validate the system of inverse kinematic equations for the robot platform. The constraint controller and the inverse kinematics relations are both incorporated into the overall positional control structure of the robot, and have successfully established a haptic feedback controller for the 6 DoFs surgical probe, and effectively tested in vitro on spinal mock surgery. The flexible surgical system approached the surgery from the posterior side of the human lumber model and bend around the vertebral body to reach the anterior side of the spinal column. The flexible surgical robot removed 82% of mock cancerous tissue compared to 16% of tissue removed by the rigid tool.Open Acces

Current engineering developments for robotic systems in flexible endoscopy

The past four decades have seen an increase in the incidence of early-onset gastrointestinal cancer. Because early-stage cancer detection is vital to reduce mortality rate, mass screening colonoscopy provides the most effective prevention strategy. However, conventional endoscopy is a painful and technically challenging procedure that requires sedation and experienced endoscopists to be performed. To overcome the current limitations, technological innovation is needed in colonoscopy. In recent years, researchers worldwide have worked to enhance the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of endoscopes. The new frontier of endoscopic interventions is represented by robotic flexible endoscopy. Among all options, self-propelling soft endoscopes are particularly promising thanks to their dexterity and adaptability to the curvilinear gastrointestinal anatomy. For these devices to replace the standard endoscopes, integration with embedded sensors and advanced surgical navigation technologies must be investigated. In this review, the progress in robotic endoscopy was divided into the fundamental areas of design, sensing, and imaging. The article offers an overview of the most promising advancements on these three topics since 2018. Continuum endoscopes, capsule endoscopes, and add-on endoscopic devices were included, with a focus on fluid-driven, tendon-driven, and magnetic actuation. Sensing methods employed for the shape and force estimation of flexible endoscopes were classified into model- and sensor-based approaches. Finally, some key contributions in molecular imaging technologies, artificial neural networks, and software algorithms are described. Open challenges are discussed to outline a path toward clinical practice for the next generation of endoscopic devices

A Platform for Gastric Cancer Screening in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide and screening programs have had a significant impact on reducing mortality. The majority of cases occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where endoscopy resources are traditionally limited. In this paper, we introduce a platform designed to enable inexpensive gastric screening to take place in remote areas of LMIC. The system consists of a swallowable endoscopic capsule connected to an external water distribution system by a multichannel soft tether. Pressurized water is ejected from the capsule to orient the view of the endoscopic camera. After completion of a cancer screening procedure, the outer shell of the capsule and the soft tether can be disposed, while the endoscopic camera is reclaimed without needing further reprocessing. The capsule, measuring 12 mm in diameter and 28 mm in length, is able to visualize the inside of the gastric cavity by combining waterjet actuation and the adjustment of the tether length. Experimental assessment was accomplished through a set of bench trials, ex vivo analysis, and in vivo feasibility validation. During the ex vivo trials, the platform was able to visualize the main landmarks that are typically observed during a gastric cancer screening procedure in less than 8 min. Given the compact footprint, the minimal cost of the disposable parts, and the possibility of running on relatively available and inexpensive resources, the proposed platform can potentially widen gastric cancer screening programs in LMIC

A continuum robotic platform for endoscopic non-contact laser surgery: design, control, and preclinical evaluation

The application of laser technologies in surgical interventions has been accepted in the clinical domain due to their atraumatic properties. In addition to manual application of fibre-guided lasers with tissue contact, non-contact transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) of laryngeal tumours has been prevailed in ENT surgery. However, TLM requires many years of surgical training for tumour resection in order to preserve the function of adjacent organs and thus preserve the patient’s quality of life. The positioning of the microscopic laser applicator outside the patient can also impede a direct line-of-sight to the target area due to anatomical variability and limit the working space. Further clinical challenges include positioning the laser focus on the tissue surface, imaging, planning and performing laser ablation, and motion of the target area during surgery. This dissertation aims to address the limitations of TLM through robotic approaches and intraoperative assistance. Although a trend towards minimally invasive surgery is apparent, no highly integrated platform for endoscopic delivery of focused laser radiation is available to date. Likewise, there are no known devices that incorporate scene information from endoscopic imaging into ablation planning and execution. For focusing of the laser beam close to the target tissue, this work first presents miniaturised focusing optics that can be integrated into endoscopic systems. Experimental trials characterise the optical properties and the ablation performance. A robotic platform is realised for manipulation of the focusing optics. This is based on a variable-length continuum manipulator. The latter enables movements of the endoscopic end effector in five degrees of freedom with a mechatronic actuation unit. The kinematic modelling and control of the robot are integrated into a modular framework that is evaluated experimentally. The manipulation of focused laser radiation also requires precise adjustment of the focal position on the tissue. For this purpose, visual, haptic and visual-haptic assistance functions are presented. These support the operator during teleoperation to set an optimal working distance. Advantages of visual-haptic assistance are demonstrated in a user study. The system performance and usability of the overall robotic system are assessed in an additional user study. Analogous to a clinical scenario, the subjects follow predefined target patterns with a laser spot. The mean positioning accuracy of the spot is 0.5 mm. Finally, methods of image-guided robot control are introduced to automate laser ablation. Experiments confirm a positive effect of proposed automation concepts on non-contact laser surgery.Die Anwendung von Lasertechnologien in chirurgischen Interventionen hat sich aufgrund der atraumatischen Eigenschaften in der Klinik etabliert. Neben manueller Applikation von fasergeführten Lasern mit Gewebekontakt hat sich die kontaktfreie transorale Lasermikrochirurgie (TLM) von Tumoren des Larynx in der HNO-Chirurgie durchgesetzt. Die TLM erfordert zur Tumorresektion jedoch ein langjähriges chirurgisches Training, um die Funktion der angrenzenden Organe zu sichern und damit die Lebensqualität der Patienten zu erhalten. Die Positionierung des mikroskopis chen Laserapplikators außerhalb des Patienten kann zudem die direkte Sicht auf das Zielgebiet durch anatomische Variabilität erschweren und den Arbeitsraum einschränken. Weitere klinische Herausforderungen betreffen die Positionierung des Laserfokus auf der Gewebeoberfläche, die Bildgebung, die Planung und Ausführung der Laserablation sowie intraoperative Bewegungen des Zielgebietes. Die vorliegende Dissertation zielt darauf ab, die Limitierungen der TLM durch robotische Ansätze und intraoperative Assistenz zu adressieren. Obwohl ein Trend zur minimal invasiven Chirurgie besteht, sind bislang keine hochintegrierten Plattformen für die endoskopische Applikation fokussierter Laserstrahlung verfügbar. Ebenfalls sind keine Systeme bekannt, die Szeneninformationen aus der endoskopischen Bildgebung in die Ablationsplanung und -ausführung einbeziehen. Für eine situsnahe Fokussierung des Laserstrahls wird in dieser Arbeit zunächst eine miniaturisierte Fokussieroptik zur Integration in endoskopische Systeme vorgestellt. Experimentelle Versuche charakterisieren die optischen Eigenschaften und das Ablationsverhalten. Zur Manipulation der Fokussieroptik wird eine robotische Plattform realisiert. Diese basiert auf einem längenveränderlichen Kontinuumsmanipulator. Letzterer ermöglicht in Kombination mit einer mechatronischen Aktuierungseinheit Bewegungen des Endoskopkopfes in fünf Freiheitsgraden. Die kinematische Modellierung und Regelung des Systems werden in ein modulares Framework eingebunden und evaluiert. Die Manipulation fokussierter Laserstrahlung erfordert zudem eine präzise Anpassung der Fokuslage auf das Gewebe. Dafür werden visuelle, haptische und visuell haptische Assistenzfunktionen eingeführt. Diese unterstützen den Anwender bei Teleoperation zur Einstellung eines optimalen Arbeitsabstandes. In einer Anwenderstudie werden Vorteile der visuell-haptischen Assistenz nachgewiesen. Die Systemperformanz und Gebrauchstauglichkeit des robotischen Gesamtsystems werden in einer weiteren Anwenderstudie untersucht. Analog zu einem klinischen Einsatz verfolgen die Probanden mit einem Laserspot vorgegebene Sollpfade. Die mittlere Positioniergenauigkeit des Spots beträgt dabei 0,5 mm. Zur Automatisierung der Ablation werden abschließend Methoden der bildgestützten Regelung vorgestellt. Experimente bestätigen einen positiven Effekt der Automationskonzepte für die kontaktfreie Laserchirurgie

로봇을 이용한 자율적 하악골채취 골절단술의 기초방법 개발과 그 정확도 평가

학위논문 (박사)-- 서울대학교 대학원 : 치의학대학원 치의과학과, 2019. 2. 김성민.Objectives: An autonomous robot osteotomy system using direct coordinate determination was developed in our study. The registration accuracy was evaluated by measuring the fiducial localization error (FLE) and target registration error (TRE) and the accuracy of the designed osteotomy method along a preprogrammed plan was evaluated. Furthermore, the accuracy of the robotic osteotomy and a manual osteotomy was compared in regard to cut position, length, angle and depth. Methods: A light-weight-robot was used in this study, with an electric gripper. A direct coordinate determination method, using three points on the teeth, was developed for registration and determination of FLE and TRE, as measured on a mandible model. Sixteen landmarks on the mandible were prepared with holes and zirconia beads and the TRE was computed in ten repeated measurements using the robot. A direct coordinate determination via three points was used for registering and a twenty stone model (7 cm x 7 cm x 3 cm). The osteotomy line was designed similar to the ramal bone graft (2 cm x 1 cm x 0.5 cm). To evaluate accuracy, we measured a position (how accurate the robot arm is located), length (how accurate the robot arm is moving while cutting), angle (the angle at which the robot arm is located), and depth (the depth of the disc cutting) error. Sixteen mandible phantoms were used to simulate the osteotomy for the ramus bone graft. An image of the phantom was obtained by three-dimensional camera scanning and a virtual ramal bone graft was designed with computer software. To evaluate an accuracy and precision, the mandible phantoms were scanned with cone beam computer tomography (CBCT). Cut position, length, angle and depth errors were measured and the results of the robotic surgery were compared with that of manual surgery. Results: The mean value of the FLE was 0.84 ± 0.38 mm and the third reference point which detected the lingual fossa of the right second molar had a larger error than the other reference points. The mean value of the TRE was 1.69 ± 0.82 mm and there were significant differences between the anterior body, posterior body, and coronoid/condyle groups. Landmarks at the anterior body had the lowest TRE (0.96 ± 0.47 mm) and landmarks on the coronoid and condyle had the highest TRE (2.12 ± 0.99 mm). An autonomous robot osteotomy with a direct coordinate determination using three points was successfully achieved. On the model RBG osteotomy, the posterior cut had 0.77±0.32 absolute mean value, the anterior cut had 0.82±0.43, the inferior cut had 0.76 ± 0.38 and the superior cut had 1.37 ± 0.83, respectively. The absolute mean values for osteotomy errors for position, length, angle, and depth were 0.93 ± 0.45 mm, 0.81 ± 0.34 mm, 1.26 ± 1.35°, and 1.19 ± 0.73 mm, respectively. The position and length errors were significantly lower than angle and depth errors. In the comparison between robotic surgery and manual surgery, there were significant differences of absolute mean value and variance in all categories. For the robotic surgery, the cut position, length, angle and depth errors were 0.70 ± 0.34 mm, 0.35 ± 0.19 mm, 1.32 ± 0.96° and 0.59 ± 0.46 mm, respectively. For the manual surgery, the cut position, length, angle and depth errors were 1.83 ± 0.65 mm, 0.62 ± 0.37 mm, 5.96 ± 3.47° and 0.40 ± 0.31 mm, respectively. The robotic surgery had significantly higher accuracy and lower variance for cut position, length and angle errors. On the other hand, the depth error had a significantly higher absolute mean value and variance than the robotic surgery. Conclusions: An autonomous robot osteotomy scheme was developed, using the direct coordinate determination by three points on the teeth, and proved an accurate method for registration. The incisal edge or buccal pit of the teeth were more proper reference points than the fossa of the teeth. The measured RMS of the TRE increased when the target moved away from the reference points. Robotic surgery showed high accuracy and precision in positioning and reduced accuracy in controlling the depth of disc sawing. The robotic surgery showed high accuracy and precision in positioning and somewhat low accuracy in controlling the depth of the disc sawing. Comparing robotic and manual surgeries, the robotic surgery was superior in accuracy and precision in position, length and angle. However, the manual surgery had higher accuracy and precision in depth.1. 목 적 본 연구에서는 세 점 접촉을 통한 좌표 결정 방식을 통해 실제 모델의 좌표와 로봇이 가지고 있는 좌표를 정합하는 방식을 이용하여 자율 로봇을 이용한 하악골채취 골절단술의 기초방법을 개발하고자 한다. 개발된 정합 방법의 위치 추적 오류 (fiducial localization error)와 목표 정합 오류 (target registration error)를 측정하여 정합의 정확성을 평가하고자 한다. 또한 사전에 프로그래밍된 골절단을 직육면체 모델에 시행하고 위치, 길이, 각도, 깊이의 오류를 측정하여 정확성을 알아보고자 한다. 추가적으로 3차원 가상수술을 통해 하악 상행지 골이식술(ramal bone graft)을 설계하고 하악 팬텀 모형에서 이에 맞게 자율 로봇이 골절단술을 수행하여 악골에서 있어서 로봇을 이용한 골절단술의 정확성을 평가해 보고 반대측은 대조군으로 외과의가 기존의 전통적인 방식으로 골절단술을 수행함으로써 양측을 비교하고자 한다. 2. 방 법 본 연구에서는 경량 로봇의 최종 작용체(end effector)에 전자 그리퍼(gripper)를 연결하고 이 그리퍼가 수술용 절삭기구나 디스크가 연결된 치과용 핸드피스를 잡고 골절단을 수행하도록 하였다. 실제 모델의 좌표와 로봇이 가지고 있는 좌표를 중첩하기 위해 세 점을 찍어 첫번째 점을 원점으로 하고, 두번째 점의 방향을 x축으로, 그리고 세 번째 점이 결정하는 평면을 xy 평면으로 인식하도록 하였다. 첫번째 실험에서는 위치 추적 오류와 목표 정합 오류의 평가를 위해 하악골 모델에 치아의 기준 세 점과 하악골의 총 16개의 목표 위치에 1mm 구멍을 뚫고 1mm 지름의 지르코니아 구를 적용하여 CBCT 상에서 잘 보일 수 있도록 하였다. 각 목표 위치에 10번씩 반복하여 위치를 인식하여 오류를 계산하고 목표 정합 오류의 위치별 차이를 분석하였다. 두번째 실험에서는 총 20 개의 직육면체 석고 모델 (7cm x 7cm x 3cm)을 제작하였고 석고의 절단 크기는 하악 상행지 골채취을 위한 골절단 크기 (2cm x 1cm x 0.5cm)와 동일하게 설계하였다. 로봇팔을 이용하여 3점 접촉을 하면 좌표값을 계산하여 미리 프로그래밍된 위치에서 골절단을 수행하였다. 로봇에 의해 수행된 석고 절단선은 위치, 길이 각도 및 깊이로 나누어 오류를 측정하였다. 세번째 실험에서는 하악 상행지 골채취를 위한 골절단 실험을 위해 총 16개의 하악 팬텀 모형을 사용하였다. 팬텀 모형을 삼차원 스캐닝으로 삼차원 영상을 얻고 가상 수술을 시행하여 골절단 크기와 형태 그리고 그 위치에 대한 계획을 세웠다. 이 가상 수술 계획에 따라 로봇이 팬텀 모델에 골절단 수술을 하였다. 반대 측은 대조군으로 기존의 전통적인 방식으로 외과의가 수행하여 양측의 오차를 비교하였다. 절단선의 위치, 길이, 각도 및 깊이를 측정하여 각각의 정확도를 비교하였다. 위치 오류는 x축으로는 로봇이 표면 접촉을 인식하고 골절단을 시행하기에 0의 값으로 측정되었고 y 축과 z 축으로 나누어 측정되었으며 평균값과 제곱평균제곱근를 계산하였다. 3. 결 과 위치 추적 오류와 목표 정합 오류는 각각 0.49±0.22 mm 와 0.98±0.47 mm로 측정되었으며 기준접에서 멀어질수록 목표 정합 오류는 더 큰 값을 보였다. 석고 모델 실험에서 절단선의 위치, 길이, 각도 및 깊이의 평균과 표준오차는 각각 0.93 ± 0.45 mm, 0.81 ± 0.34 mm, 1.26 ± 1.35°, 1.19 ± 0.73 mm 이었다. 위치가 가장 정확한 값을 보였으며 길이 그리고 깊이 순으로 오차가 증가하였으며, 각도와 절단 깊이 제어가 가장 오차가 많은 술식이었다. 하악 팬텀 수술에서 로봇을 이용한 골절단의 위치, 길이, 각도 및 깊이 오차 값은 각각 0.70 ± 0.34 mm, 0.35 ± 0.19 mm, 1.32 ± 0.96°, 0.59 ± 0.46 mm 였으며 외과의의 골절단에서는 값이 각각 1.83 ± 0.65 mm, 0.62 ± 0.37 mm, 5.96 ± 3.47°, 0.40 ± 0.31 mm 였다. 위치, 길이, 각도 오차는 로봇이 더 작은 값을 보였고 깊이 오차는 외과의의 수술에서 더 작은 값을 보였다. 4. 결 론 본 연구에서는 하악 상행지 골채취를 위한 자율 로봇을 이용한 골절단 시스템을 개발하였고 위치추적오류와 목표정합오류 모두 우수한 값을 보였다. 석고 모형과 하악 팬텀 모향을 이용한 두가지 실험 모두에서 유용성과 향상된 정확성을 확인할 수 있었다. 세점 접촉 좌표 결정 시스템은 실제 모델의 좌표를 로봇의 좌표로 등록하는 데 유용한 시스템이었으며, 하악 상행지 골절단술에 대한 자율로봇 시스템의 정확도는 기존의 외과의가 직접 수행하는 방식보다 우수하였다.Abstract (in English) 1. Introduction 1 2. Materials and Methods. 12 3. Results 26 4. Discussion 32 5. Conclusions 40 6. References 41 Tables and Figures 48 Abstract (in Korean) 74Docto

Clinical Considerations for Flexible Access Surgery

The expectation of excellence in health care in modern times continues to be challenged. Government and patients alike continue to demand superior health care with excellent treatment outcomes at minimal expense to their time and convenience. Although surgery is the most definitive treatment option in modern medicine, it can be the most demanding both physically and psychologically. The less invasive the procedure offered the more acceptable it has been shown to be to the patient more often with fewer complications attributed and a faster return to health (1). The positive impact of the minimally invasive concept on the healthcare system has been unfathomable. The domino effect created by the early results from laparoscopic surgery was felt not only across the surgical community but also the medical. Across different specialties, alternative novel therapeutic techniques were devised to overcome problems relating to the large operative procedures which struggled to cross over to the laparoscopic approach. The best example of this is in cardiovascular surgery, where image guided endovascular techniques have overcome the need for many of the once extensive operative procedures including the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and the coronary bypass procedure. The risks and complications from these operative interventions remain significant and are still performed, though far less frequently than in the past. Selective aneurysms as well as primary coronary events are managed routinely through the endovascular technique with surgery being retained for the complex cases or the non-responders. It seems obvious in hindsight that given the choice of a small 5mm groin incision over a large 30cm open chest or abdominal incision which the public would choose, even with the greater long term benefits sometimes favoring the open approaches. Gastrointestinal endoscopy has the potential to move in the same direction. The use of the endoscope as a surgical tool rather than simply an investigative device has only recently been recognized, promoted through the concept of Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). The technique aims to provide a cosmetic enhancement to routine surgical procedures by creating the access incision within a natural orifice. The endoscope provides the vision and the biopsy channels in-built are able to guide operative instruments to the target site to enable a therapeutic procedure to be undertaken. However, it would be naïve to believe that in the current state NOTES is anything but a fashionable research technique and far from routine clinical use. However, it’s most superior element, which has the potential to extend the boundaries of surgery aside from all else, is the flexibility of the platform. This thesis provides a detailed investigation into the use of the flexible endoscope as a surgical platform. It defines Flexible Access Surgery (FAS) as an all encompassing surgical technique which utilizes flexible platforms at its heart, describes some novel applications representative as examplars of the technique and explores the significant challenges which would hinder clinical translation. These challenges are described and integrated into two novel enhanced mechatronic flexible access surgical platforms which are further validated and trialed within the pre-clinical in-vivo setting as the future of flexible surgery. The major original contributions of this thesis include the description and definition of the flexible access technique with novel clinical applications. The design, construction and validation of a flexible access box simulator for describing flexible endoscopic navigation within a spatial environment highlighting the challenge this encompasses for many clinicians. The instrumental requirements are explored through the evaluation of the force requirements within the preclinical setting and the instrument refinement both in design and practice that can be adopted to optimize the force delivery particularly when relating to novel flexible platform designs. Finally, the thesis describes the integrated clinical design and validation of two enhanced mechatronic flexible access platforms and describes their clinically driven construction through a series of pre-clinical live in-vivo trials. The evolution of each device is described with performance evaluation and clinical exemplars undertaken. The impact of the results presented within this thesis and the potential for further high impact research is centered on the design and integration of future flexible robotic platforms for minimally invasive surgery. The clinical and mechanical requirements essential for optimal clinical performance will enable designs to be more clinically relevant and ultimately more clinically translatable in the future. Defining these requirements has entailed the use of mapping and sensing the relevant tools which has in turn exposed future potential research avenues to be opened into the perhaps more relevant real time evaluation of the surgical workflow, enabling clinical skills to be more reliably quantified during laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures

Investigating Ultrasound-Guided Autonomous Assistance during Robotic Minimally Invasive Surgery

Despite it being over twenty years since the first introduction of robotic surgical systems in common surgical practice, they are still far from widespread across all healthcare systems, surgical disciplines and procedures. At the same time, the systems that are used act as mere tele-manipulators with motion scaling and have yet to make use of the immense potential of their sensory data in providing autonomous assistance during surgery or perform tasks themselves in a semi-autonomous fashion. Equivalently, the potential of using intracorporeal imaging, particularly Ultrasound (US) during surgery for improved tumour localisation remains largely unused. Aside from the cost factors, this also has to do with the necessity of adequate training for scan interpretation and the difficulty of handling an US probe near the surgical sight. Additionally, the potential for automation that is being explored in extracorporeal US using serial manipulators does not yet translate into ultrasound-enabled autonomous assistance in a surgical robotic setting. Motivated by this research gap, this work explores means to enable autonomous intracorporeal ultrasound in a surgical robotic setting. Based around the the da Vinci Research Kit (dVRK), it first develops a surgical robotics platform that allows for precise evaluation of the robot’s performance using Infrared (IR) tracking technology. Based on this initial work, it then explores the possibility to provide autonomous ultrasound guidance during surgery. Therefore, it develops and assesses means to improve kinematic accuracy despite manipulator backlash as well as enabling adequate probe position with respect to the tissue surface and anatomy. Founded on the acquired anatomical information, this thesis explores the integration of a second robotic arm and its usage for autonomous assistance. Starting with an autonomously acquired tumor scan, the setup is extended and methods devised to enable the autonomous marking of margined tumor boundaries on the tissue surface both in a phantom as well as in an ex-vivo experiment on porcine liver. Moving towards increased autonomy, a novel minimally invasive High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFUS) transducer is integrated into the robotic setup including a sensorised, water-filled membrane for sensing interaction forces with the tissue surface. For this purpose an extensive material characterisation is caried out, exploring different surface material pairings. Finally, the proposed system, including trajectory planning and a hybrid-force position control scheme are evaluated in a benchtop ultrasound phantom trial

Power tool use in orthopaedic surgery: iatrogenic injury, its detection and technological advances

Background: Power tools are an integral part to orthopaedic surgery but have the capacity to cause iatrogenic injury. This systematic review aimed to investigate the prevalence of iatrogenic injury due to power tools in orthopaedic surgery and discuss the current methods 9that can be used to reduce this. Methods: A systematic review of all English language articles using a keyword search was undertaken in Medline, Embase, PubMed and Scopus databases. Exclusion criteria included injuries related to cast saw, temperature induced damage and complications not clearly related to power tool use. Results: 3694 abstracts were retrieved, and 88studies were included in the final analysis. Only a few studies and individual case reports directly looked at prevalence of injury due to power tools. This included 2 studies looking at frequency of vascular injury during femoral fracture fixation (0.49% and 0.2%),2 studies investigating frequency of vertebral artery injury during spinal surgery (0.5% and 0.08%)and 3 studies investigating vascular injury during total joint arthroplasty (124 vascular injuries involving 138 blood vessels,0.13% and 0.1% incidence)in addition to 1 questionnaire sent electronically to surgeons. There are multiple methods to prevent damage during the use of power tools. These include robotics, Revised Manuscript (Maximum 3000 Words) simulation, specific drill settings and real-time feedback techniques such as spectroscopy and electromyography. Conclusion: Power tools have the potential to cause iatrogenic injury to surrounding structures during orthopaedic surgery. Fortunately, the published literature suggests the frequency of iatrogenic injury using orthopaedic power tools is low. There are multiple technologies available to reduce damage using power tools. In high-risk operations the use of advanced technologies to reduce the chance of iatrogenic injury should be considered. Clinical Relevance: Power tools used during orthopaedic surgery have the potential to cause iatrogenic injury through mechanisms such as plunging or over-sawing. Understanding the prevalence of these injuries and mechanisms to increase safety would be useful to surgeons in their daily practice and have the potential to reduce iatrogenic injury in future

Machining of biocompatible materials: Recent advances

Machining of biocompatible materials is facing the fundamental challenges due to the specific material properties as well as the application requirements. Firstly, this paper presents a review of various materials which the medical industry needs to machine, then comments on the advances in the understanding of their specific cutting mechanisms. Finally it reviews the machining processes that the industry employs for different applications. This highlights the specific functional requirements that need to be considered when machining biocompatible materials and the associated machines and tooling. An analysis of the scientific and engineering challenges and opportunities related to this topic are presented