title: Flex Robotic System in transoral robotic surgery: The first 40 patients.
abstract: The Flex Robotic System is a new robotic device specifically developed for transoral robotic surgery (TORS).
  
  
  
  We performed a prospective clinical study, assessing the safety and efficacy of the Medrobotics Flex Robotic System. A total of 40 patients required a surgical procedure for benign lesions (n = 30) or T1 and T2 carcinomas (n = 10). Access and visualization of different anatomic subsites were individually graded by the surgeon. Setup times, access and visualization times, surgical results, as well as adverse events were documented intraoperatively.
  
  
  
  The lesions could be exposed and visualized properly in 38 patients (95%) who went on to have a surgical procedure performed with the Flex Robotic System, which were intraoperatively evaluated as successful. No serious adverse events occurred.
  
  
  
  Lesions in the oropharynx, hypopharynx, or supraglottic larynx could be successfully resected using the Flex Robotic System, thus making the system a safe and effective tool in transoral robotic surgery. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 471-475, 2017.
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Mattheis
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Hasskamp
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Holtmann
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Schäfer
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Urban
authors: U
authors: Geisthoff
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Nina
authors: N
authors: Dominas
authors: Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057605:Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D061646:Operative Time; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D061214:Patient Safety; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012371:Robotics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: flexible endoscope; head and neck tumors; laser; robotic; transoral robotic surgery (TORS)