Arch Plast Surg.  2014 May;41(3):225-230. 10.5999/aps.2014.41.3.225.

Robotic Microsurgery Optimization

• Brahmbhatt JV
• Gudeloglu
• Liverneaux P
• Parekattil SJ

• KMID: 2120867
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2014.41.3.225

Abstract

The increased application of the da Vinci robotic platform (Intuitive Surgical Inc.) for microsurgery has led to the development of new adjunctive surgical instrumentation. In microsurgery, the robotic platform can provide high definition 12x-15x digital magnification, broader range of motion, fine instrument handling with decreased tremor, reduced surgeon fatigue, and improved surgical productivity. This paper presents novel adjunctive tools that provide enhanced optical magnification, micro-Doppler sensing of vessels down to a 1-mm size, vein mapping capabilities, hydro-dissection, micro-ablation technology (with minimal thermal spread-CO2 laser technology), and confocal microscopy to provide imaging at a cellular level. Microsurgical outcomes from the use of these tools in the management of patients with infertility and chronic groin and testicular pain are reviewed. All these instruments have been adapted for the robotic console and enhance the robot-assisted microsurgery experience. As the popularity of robot-assisted microsurgery grows, so will its breadth of instrumentation.

Keyword

Robotics; Microsurgery; Instrumentation; Equipment and supplies

MeSH Terms

Efficiency
Equipment and Supplies
Fatigue
Groin
Humans
Infertility
Microscopy, Confocal
Microsurgery*
Range of Motion, Articular
Robotics
Surgical Instruments
Tremor
Veins