Robotic surgery workshop debates latest innovations

Leading experts discuss the latest advances in medical robotic technology - News

Wednesday 7 May 2008
by Colin Smith

Robotic technology that can deliver medical treatments by navigating the safest path through the body was just one of the pioneering technologies discussed at a workshop held yesterday.

More than 130 scientists, students and international guests attended a workshop organised by Imperial College London’s Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery which was held at the Royal Geographical Society on Tuesday 6 May 2008.

Delegates attending the workshop

Imperial scientists and international speakers discussed the latest concepts and breakthroughs in robotic technology which aim to make surgery more accurate, reliable and safer for patients, thereby reducing the time needed to recover from operations.

Projects under discussion included software that can plot a course inside the body for a flexible robotic tube. This will allow it to push safely through delicate tissue to deliver drugs and carry out biopsies in areas of the body, such as the brain, where conventional rigid probes make these operations extremely challenging.

The workshop also examined a new type of endoscope, a probe which can plot a 3D course inside a patient by using fibre optics. This will guide the surgeon in real time as he or she performs delicate minimally invasive medical procedures. Scientists believe the endoscope will improve the performance of the surgeon, ensuring safer and more accurate surgery.

The latest international advances in surgical robotics were also discussed. Dr Frederick Moll, CEO of surgical robotic firm Hansen Medical Inc, talked about the latest improvements in surgical robotics in the USA. The workshop was also joined by robotics pioneer Professor Bradley Nelson from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), who discussed his research on micro robots which can, for example, use magnetism to propel themselves inside the eyes to deliver treatments and carry out examinations.

Other speakers included Professor Stephen Smith, Principal of Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine, and Hamlyn Centre for Surgical Robotics Co-Directors Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, who is also the Director of the Royal Society/Wolfson MIC Laboratory at Imperial and Professor Lord Ara Darzi who is also Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Health.

Commenting about the workshop, Professor Guang Zhong Yang said that it provided a unique opportunity for scientists to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by scientists in the field of medical robotics. He said:

“The benefits of medical robotics in healthcare are enormous and this workshop provided a forum to discuss some of the latest technological advances in the field. We were particularly fortunate to have Dr Frederick Moll and Professor Bradley Nelson onboard to discuss their research which is pushing forward the boundaries of medical robotic technology.”