Robotic Surgery
08
Robotic Surgery
The ultimate surgeon
Zander Brais
Zander Brais Page 2 of 13
2
Robotic Surgery
Robots are slowly taking over the world of surgery. Why? There are numerous reasons.
For one, the machines have higher precision and more stable “hands and fingers”. They will not tie large knots with thick sutures and will not cut into healthy, normal tissues. Secondly, infections are less likely. Since these robotic surgeons do not need to insert large incisions in the body, depending on the robot, only a couple miniature holes need to be cut, thus, allowing minimal infection. The insides are not exposed to any bacteria and recovery time is now shortened. As well, with great cuts and openings there is more pain afterwards, so pain would be reduced too if the incisions were smaller.
Along with the many positive aspects of robotic surgery, there are also many possible risks and negative outcomes. Such risks can be simple like, power outages, computer crashes, various other electric problems, elevated costs and the size. Hospitals now have backup generators and amazing computer systems so most of these problems are gone, yet the cost still remains an issue.
Human and Robot strengths and weaknesses
All humans, animals and machines in our world have their own strength and weaknesses, positives and negatives, advantages and limitations. For robotic and human surgeons, there are many. Robot strengths and limitations
Robots are amazing; they function like no human with only electricity and software.
However, robots in surgery operate on a whole other level. These machines can run non-stop for however long it takes to complete the surgery whether it is succeeds or fails (Health and
Wellbeing 2007). Harvard 2005 and Heart Surgery 2006 state that robotic surgeons, such as the
Da Vinci system TM, are stable, untiring, quiet machines that will perform heart surgery in 50 minutes and not even blink with disgust. These robots are not “squeamish”. They
Robotic Surgery
The ultimate surgeon
Zander Brais
Zander Brais Page 2 of 13
2
Robotic Surgery
Robots are slowly taking over the world of surgery. Why? There are numerous reasons.
For one, the machines have higher precision and more stable “hands and fingers”. They will not tie large knots with thick sutures and will not cut into healthy, normal tissues. Secondly, infections are less likely. Since these robotic surgeons do not need to insert large incisions in the body, depending on the robot, only a couple miniature holes need to be cut, thus, allowing minimal infection. The insides are not exposed to any bacteria and recovery time is now shortened. As well, with great cuts and openings there is more pain afterwards, so pain would be reduced too if the incisions were smaller.
Along with the many positive aspects of robotic surgery, there are also many possible risks and negative outcomes. Such risks can be simple like, power outages, computer crashes, various other electric problems, elevated costs and the size. Hospitals now have backup generators and amazing computer systems so most of these problems are gone, yet the cost still remains an issue.
Human and Robot strengths and weaknesses
All humans, animals and machines in our world have their own strength and weaknesses, positives and negatives, advantages and limitations. For robotic and human surgeons, there are many. Robot strengths and limitations
Robots are amazing; they function like no human with only electricity and software.
However, robots in surgery operate on a whole other level. These machines can run non-stop for however long it takes to complete the surgery whether it is succeeds or fails (Health and
Wellbeing 2007). Harvard 2005 and Heart Surgery 2006 state that robotic surgeons, such as the
Da Vinci system TM, are stable, untiring, quiet machines that will perform heart surgery in 50 minutes and not even blink with disgust. These robots are not “squeamish”. They
References: Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2005_Groups/04/index.html. Bann, S. (n.d.). sBMJ | Robotics in surgery. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://student.bmj.com/issues/02/07/education/230.php. Cao, C., Rogers, G., & Carayon, P. (n.d.). HF Issues in Sugery. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from ase.tufts.edu/mechanical/EREL/Publications/D-4.pdf. Howe, R., & Matsuoka, Y. (n.d.). Robotics for Surgery. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from biorobotics.harvard.edu/pubs/annurev99.pdf. Lavelle, P. (n.d.). Trust me, I 'm a robot - Health & Wellbeing. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2007/03/08/1866258.htm. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.hiptechblog.com/2006/05/19/robot-does-worlds-first-unassisted-heartsurgery/. Robotic Surgery Videos and Articles. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2008, from http://www.cts.usc.edu/rsi-videosandarticles.html. Robotic surgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_surgery. Robotics in Surgery. (n.d.). Retrieved April 22, 2008, from http://www.ercim.org/publication/Ercim_News/enw42/coste.html. Tooher, R., & Pham, C. (n.d.). da Vinci Surgical Robotic System. Retrieved March 25, 2008, from (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2008, from http://davincisurgery.com/index.aspx?id=ycc&OVRAW=robotic%20surgery&OVKEY