A Comparative Study for Robot Assisted Vitreoretinal Surgery: Micron vs. the Steady-Hand Robot

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Robotics
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Vitreoretinal surgery is susceptible to complications from surgeon hand tremors and excessive applied forces.
• Robotic assistance integrated with tool-to-tissue force sensing offers a potential solution to enhance surgical precision and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and compare the membrane peeling performance of two distinct robotic systems with integrated force sensing capabilities.
• To assess the impact of these robotic systems on peeling forces and tremor reduction in vitreoretinal surgery.

Main Methods:

• A single user performed membrane peeling tasks using two robotic systems: Micron and the Steady-Hand Robot.
• Both systems feature integrated force sensing capabilities for enhanced control and feedback.

Main Results:

• Both robotic systems demonstrated promising performance improvements in membrane peeling.
• Similar trends were observed in the impact on peeling forces and tremor cancellation between the two systems.

Conclusions:

• Robotic assistance with force sensing shows significant potential for improving vitreoretinal surgical outcomes.
• The evaluated systems offer comparable benefits in mitigating risks associated with hand tremors and excessive forces.