Towards an in vivo wireless mobile robot for surgical assistance

The use of miniature in vivo robots that fit entirely inside the peritoneal cavity represents a novel approach to laparoscopic surgery. Previous work has demonstrated that mobile and fixed-base in vivo robots can be used to improve visualization of the surgical field and perform surgical tasks such as collecting biopsy tissue samples. All of these robots used tethers to provide for power and data transmission. This paper describes recent work focused on developing a modular wireless mobile platform that could be used for in vivo robotic sensing and manipulation applications. One vision for these types of self-contained in vivo robotic devices is that they could be easily carried and deployed by non-medical personnel at the site of an injury. Such wireless in vivo robots are much more transportable and lower cost than current robotic surgical assistants, and could ultimately allow a surgeon to become a remote first responder irrespective of the location of the patient.