Intelligent interface considerations for surgical assist robotics

Robots are finding increasing use in surgery as a means of releasing the surgeon from hazard and fatigue and also in enhancing the safety and comfort of the patient. This is particularly true of Minimal Access Surgery (MAS), which includes thoraoscopy (chest surgery), laparoscopy (abdominal surgery) and interventional flexible endoscopy. MAS is revolutionising surgery and is now accepted as a major complement to conventional open surgery. The popularity of MAS is due to the numerous advantages it offers over conventional open surgical procedures - particularly the reduction of the trauma to the patient, accelerated recovery and improved cosmesis. However, against these must be set an inevitable increase in the dexterity demanded of the surgeon and an increase in the time taken for the operations. Robotics can help to reduce to a minimum these problems associated with MAS.