DLR MiroSurge: a versatile system for research in endoscopic telesurgery

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Surgical Technology
• Human-Robot Interaction

Background:

• Evaluating scientific approaches in surgical robotics requires adaptable systems.
• Dedicated systems are task-specific, while versatile systems offer broader applications but often lack human proximity.
• Industrial robots, common in versatile systems, are generally unsuitable for close human interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a versatile robotic surgery platform (MRSP) suitable for various surgical applications.
• To create a system that balances versatility with the requirements for close human interaction in surgery.

Main Methods:

• The Miro robotic surgery platform (MRSP) was designed with versatile components.
• Dedicated surgical front-ends and configurable surgeon interfaces were integrated into the MRSP.
• The MiroSurge configuration was developed as a specific application of the MRSP.

Main Results:

• MiroSurge enables bimanual endoscopic telesurgery.
• The system successfully incorporates force feedback for enhanced surgical control.
• The components meet stringent design requirements for robotic telesurgery.

Conclusions:

• The MiroSurge system fulfills critical requirements for robotic telesurgery with force feedback.
• The inherent versatility of the MiroSurge system is key for future advancements and optimization in surgical robotics.