Robotics in urologic surgery: an evolving new technology.
Rapid technological developments in the past two decades have produced new inventions such as robots and incorporated them into our daily lives. Today, robots perform vital functions in homes, outer space, hospitals and on military instillations. The development of robotic surgery has given hospitals and health care providers a valuable tool that is making a profound impact on highly technical surgical procedures. The field of urology is one area of medicine that has adopted and incorporated robotic surgery into its armamentarium. Innovative robotic urologic surgical applications and techniques are being developed and reported everyday. Increased utilization and development will ultimately fuel the discovery of newer applications of robotic systems in urologic surgery. Herein we provide an overview of the history, development, and applications of robotics in surgery with a focus on urologic surgery.
Atug
Fatih
F
Center for Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery, Department of Urology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. fatihatug@hotmail.com
Castle
Erik P
EP
Woods
Michael
M
Davis
Rodney
R
Thomas
Raju
R
D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*