Robotic Surgery: Is AI doing my procedure?

Robotic Surgery and AI

Recently the presence of artificial intelligence has become widespread, and one may wonder what robotic surgery actually entails. As with most AI it can be used as an adjunct for medical professionals. Although the surgical robots do contain some adaptive AI, all surgical robots currently only provide assistance to the surgeon performing the procedure. They do not perform anything independently.

History of Robotic Surgery

The idea of robotic surgery came about roughly thirty-five years ago, originally designed for the military as a way to get medical help to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. However, it did not have widespread application until twenty years ago when substantial advances in technology were possible. Now, there are many types of robots designed to help in different surgical specialties.

General Information on Surgical Robots

All surgical robots provide medical professionals with increased precision, superior dexterity, enhanced visualization, and efficiency. Today, surgical robots have applications for a variety of surgical specialties. Listed below are the most common types utilized:

• ROSA(robotic stereotactic assistance) Robot - A robot designed for various types of brain surgery.

  • This robot provides neurosurgeons with exact locations in the brain to treat conditions such as epilepsy or parkinson's disease.

• Da Vinci Robot - A robot which assists in abdominal procedures, specifically urology, gynecology, and gastrointestinal specialties.

  • This robot gives surgeons an increased range of motion when using surgical tools allowing ease in surgical knot tying and sewing in small or hard to reach areas of the body. It also gives surgeons the capability of having three arms instead of two. Additionally, it enhances visibility with a three dimension view, something that is not possible in traditional laparoscopic surgery. These techniques help patients with hernias, prostate cancer, and ovarian cancer.

• VELYS Robot - A robot that assists orthopedic doctors during joint replacement surgery.

  • This robot takes real time measurements of a person's joint and range of motion during joint replacement surgery. It then calculates the ideal angles and placements for the bone cuts. This gives the surgeons exact lines to cut along and ensures the patient gets the best fitting implant for the most optimal outcome.

Conclusion

In summary, robotic surgery is becoming increasingly popular due to its numerous benefits. Things such as smaller incisions, less complications, and faster operations are some of the reasons why doctors are utilizing assistive robots. Patients have speedy recoveries and surgeons can feel confident they are providing exceptional care. As medical technology continues to advance, the field of robotics will as well. Within the next few years we may see more and more applications for assistive surgical robots.

References:

Morrell, A. L. G., Morrell‑Junior, A. C., Morrell, A. G., Mendes, J. M. F., Tustumi, F.rDe‑Oliveira‑e‑Silva, L. G., & Morrell, A. (2021, January 4). The history of robotic surgery and its evolution: When illusion becomes reality. Revista do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões, 48, Article e20202798. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-6991e-20202798

Reddy, K., Gharde, P., Tayade, H., Patil, M., Reddy, L. S., & Surya, D. (2023, December 12). Advancements in robotic surgery: A comprehensive overview of current utilizations and upcoming frontiers. Cureus, 15(12), e50415. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.50415

Alton, T. B., Severson, E. P., Ford, M. C., Lesko, J., & Leslie, I. J. (2025). VELYS robotic‑assisted total knee arthroplasty: Enhanced accuracy and comparable early outcomes versus manual instrumentation during adoption. Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics, 12(1), Article e70163. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeo2.70163

Kaewborisutsakul, A., Chernov, M., Yokosako, S., & Kubota, Y. (2024). Usefulness of robotic stereotactic assistance (ROSA®) device for stereoelectroencephalography electrode implantation: A systematic review and meta‑analysis. Neurologia Medico‑Chirurgica, 64(2), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.2176/jns‑nmc.2023‑0119

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