NeuRobot: telecontrolled micromanipulator system for minimally invasive microneurosurgery-preliminary results.
OBJECTIVE
Microneurosurgery can be performed less invasively with the recent advances in neuronavigation and neuroendoscopy. For even less invasive microneurosurgery, we have developed a telecontrolled micromanipulator system.


METHODS
The NeuRobot telecontrolled micromanipulator system was developed. With the use of this system, surgical simulations were performed with a human cadaveric head.


RESULTS
The system consists of four main parts, i.e., a micromanipulator (slave manipulator), a manipulator-supporting device, an operation-input device (master manipulator), and a three-dimensional display monitor. Three 1-mm forceps and a three-dimensional endoscope, which could be remotely controlled with three degrees of freedom (rotation, neck swinging, and forward/backward motion), were installed in the slave manipulator. All surgical procedures were accurately performed with this system.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of telecontrolled manipulator systems in neurosurgery is very promising, and we are convinced that this system will facilitate more accurate, less invasive microneurosurgery. The details of the NeuRobot system and preliminary results are presented.
Hongo
Kazuhiro
K
Department of Neurosurgery, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan. khongo@hsp.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Kobayashi
Shigeaki
S
Kakizawa
Yukinari
Y
Koyama
Jun-Ichi
J
Goto
Tetsuya
T
Okudera
Hiroshi
H
Kan
Kazutoshi
K
Fujie
Masakatsu G
MG
Iseki
Hiroshi
H
Takakura
Kintomo
K
D002102:Cadaver; D004867:Equipment Design; D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics; D013523:Surgical Equipment; D013685:Telecommunications