title: [Preclinical development of the TIMC LER (light endoscope robot)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors participated in the development of an innovative endoscope robot in laparoscopic surgery designed by TIMC-GMCAO, providing a solution to the disadvantages of currently available systems, i.e. their cost and large dimensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A compact robot (LER) placed on the patient's skin that can be used in the lateral and dorsal supine position was tested on cadavres and laboratory pigs in order to allow successive modifications. The current control system is based on voice recognition. The amplitude of vision is 360 degrees with an angle of 160 degrees. Twenty three procedures were performed (2 radical prostatectomies, 4 pelvic lymph node dissections, 6 nephrectomies, 2 adrenalectomies, 3 cholecystectomies, 1 small bowel resection-anastomosis, 1 cystectomy, 1 splenectomy, and 3 appendicectomies).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the various control systems tested, we adopted voice recognition on the basis of its intuitive nature and the fact that it leaves one hand free. In the light of these studies, several aspects of the prototype were modified: reliability, fixation, ergonomy and dimensions. The ease of installation, which takes only 5 minutes, and the easy handling of the robot allowed 21 out of 23 laparoscopic procedures to be performed without the need for an assistant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LER robot is an endoscope robot guided by the surgeon's voice that can eliminate the need for an assistant to hold the camera during laparoscopic surgery in the lateral and dorsal supine positions. The ease of installation and manufacture should make this an effective and inexpensive system. The gain in operating time was not evaluated during these trials on cadavres and pigs, as various prototypes were tested and several problems of reliability were successively resolved. Ongoing randomized, prospective clinical trials should soon validate this robot prior to marketing.
authors.affiliation: Service de Chirurgie Urologique et de la Transplantation rénale, CHU de Grenoble, France. j.long@libertysurf.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Alexandre
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cinquin
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Troccaz
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rambeaud
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Skowron
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berkelman
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Letoublon
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cadi
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bocqueraz
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voros
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Descotes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008027:Light; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013552:Swine