A hand-guided robotic drill for cochleostomy on human cadavers

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Robotic Surgery
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Robotic drilling systems are emerging for otologic procedures like cochleostomy.
• Previous systems utilized arm support, with limited clinical trials.
• This study introduces a hand-guided robotic drill for cadaveric evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and evaluate a novel hand-guided robotic drill for cochleostomy preparation.
• To assess the feasibility and safety of the robotic drill in human cadaver trials.

Main Methods:

• A hand-guided robotic drill incorporating a smart tactile sensing system was developed.
• The system automatically detects drilling mediums and cessation points to prevent endosteal penetration.
• Experiments were conducted on two adult human cadavers.

Main Results:

• Successful cochleostomy creation was achieved in three cochlea across the cadavers.
• The hand-guided system demonstrated flexibility in trajectory adjustment, preventing cutting initiation slips.
• Advantages include lower setup time, cost, and training overhead compared to arm-supported systems.

Conclusions:

• The hand-guided robotic drill is a viable tool for cochleostomy preparation.
• Cadaver trials confirmed the successful and safe application of the robotic drill.
• This technology offers potential benefits for otologic surgical procedures.