title: Current technology in navigation and robotics for liver tumours ablation.
abstract: Radiofrequecy ablation is the most widely used local ablative therapy for both primary and metastatic liver tumours. However, it has limited application in the treatment of large tumours (tumours >3cm) and multicentric tumours. In recent years, many strategies have been developed to extend the application of radiofrequency ablation to large tumours. A promising approach is to take advantage of the rapid advancement in imaging and robotic technologies to construct an integrated surgical navigation and medical robotic system. This paper presents a review of existing surgical navigation methods and medical robots. We also introduce our current developed model - Transcutaneous Robot-assisted Ablation-device Insertion Navigation System (TRAINS). The clinical viability of this prototyped integrated navigation and robotic system for large and multicentric tumors is demonstrated using animal experiments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Stephen Ky
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wah Wah
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Hlaing
authors.forename: Liangjing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chee Kong
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chui
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008099:Liver; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D012371:Robotics; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*