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Robot Control System for Stereotactic Surgery
Abstract:
The article presents a prototype of a robot control system for stereotactic brain surgery. The development of neuroimaging, as well as the implementation of modern devices for neurosurgery, has undoubtedly contributed to significant progress in this field of medicine. Reaching a pathology located deep inside does not pose significant difficulty from the technical point of view; it is the selection of the access route that is the problem - to prevent the occurrence of permanent neurological deficits, such as severe paresis, vision disorders, speech or consciousness disorders. Obviously, knowledge of brain anatomy allows for adopting appropriate surgical tactics; however, some patients with a high-risk access route are not qualified for surgery. Even the hand of the most skilled operator does not guarantee precise removal of the tumour whilst bypassing important neural pathways, hence the necessity of introducing robots, which increase the level of surgical precision. A neural surgeon is able to perform very complicated surgical actions; however, human psychophysical limitations in neurosurgical procedures are becoming increasingly important, as surgeons are more and more frequently willing to perform operations with accuracy higher than 1 mm, but this is virtually impossible without any enhancement. Apart from the natural limitations of precision of the human hand, the surgeon's mental and physical condition deteriorates during a several-hour-long surgical procedure, thus lowering the surgeon's fitness and precision of movement. High concentration and a frequently unnatural position during the surgery cause additional tiredness. Therefore, numerous research centres and commercial companies are working on surgical robots. It seems that neurosurgery is particularly inclined for the introduction of robots enhancing the precision of a surgeon's work.
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Periodical:
Pages:
45-52
Citation:
Online since:
March 2013
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