Evaluating tactile feedback in robotic surgery for potential clinical application using an animal model

Area of Science:

• Robotic Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery offers advantages like enhanced dexterity and precision.
• A key limitation of current robotic systems is the absence of tactile feedback.
• Tactile feedback is crucial for surgeons to gauge tissue interaction and prevent damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an integrated tactile feedback system on grasping forces during robotic surgery.
• To assess the incidence of tissue damage during robotic tissue manipulation with and without tactile feedback.
• To determine the correlation between grasping forces and tissue damage in a robotic surgery setting.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen subjects (5 experts, 14 novices) performed porcine bowel manipulation using the da Vinci system.
• The study compared conditions with tactile feedback deactivated versus activated.
• Grasping forces and tissue damage (gross and histological) were analyzed, with a pathologist blinded to the conditions.

Main Results:

• Tactile feedback significantly decreased grasping forces for both expert and novice surgeons (P < 0.001).
• The overall incidence of tissue damage was significantly reduced across all subjects (P < 0.001).
• A significant correlation was found between grasping forces and tissue damage (P = 0.008).

Conclusions:

• In vivo application of tactile feedback in robotic surgery significantly reduces grasping forces and subsequent tissue damage.
• This tactile feedback system has the potential to improve surgical outcomes.
• The system may expand the application of robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery by enhancing safety and control.