Overview of the vascular interventional robot.
BACKGROUND
Conventional vascular interventional surgery (VIS) is manually performed under fluoroscopic guidance, requiring lead protection for the surgeons. In order to reduce the X-ray irradiation, the robot has been introduced to VIS in this study. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive summary of the vascular interventional robot (VIR).


METHODS
A retrospective review of the currently published literature on VIR is discussed. The overview details the key technologies of VIR.


RESULTS
Surgeons operate the robot far away from the patient, so protecting themselves from X-ray irradiation. The robot system carries out the VIS precisely and provides three-dimensional visualization of vasculature that can be used for preoperative planning and intra-operative navigation.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the vascular interventional robot appears safe and feasible for vascular interventional surgery. VIR can offer radiation safety to surgeon and enhance surgical accuracy.
Da
Liu
L
Robotics Institute, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Beijing, People's Republic of China. drliuda@yahoo.com.cn
Zhang
Dapeng
D
Wang
Tianmiao
T
D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*