Today's state of the art in surgical robotics*.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the current level of development of robots for surgery.


METHODS
This paper is based on a literature search in Pubmed, IEEExplore, CiteSeer and the abstract volumes of the MICCAI 2002, 2003 and 2004, CARS 2003 and 2004, CAOS 2003 and 2004, CURAC 2003 and 2004 and MRNV 2004 meetings.


RESULTS
Divided into different disciplines (imaging, abdominal and thoracic surgery, ENT, OMS, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, radiosurgery, trauma surgery, urology), 159 robot systems are introduced. Their functionality, deployment, origin and mechanical set-up are described. Additional contacts and internet links are listed.


CONCLUSIONS
The systems perform diverse tasks such as milling cavities in bone, harvesting skin, screwing pedicles or irradiating tumors. From a technical perspective the strong specialization of the systems stands out. Most of the systems are being developed in Germany, the United States, Japan or France.
Pott
Peter P
PP
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Laboratory for Biomechanics and Experimental Orthopaedics, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. peter.pott@ortho.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Scharf
Hanns-Peter
HP
Schwarz
Markus L R
ML
D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D012371:Robotics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends