Remote vascular interventional surgery robotics: a literature review

Area of Science:

• Medical Robotics
• Surgical Technology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Vascular interventional doctors face radiation exposure and high work intensity.
• Remote vascular interventional surgery robotics aim to enhance surgeon safety, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Existing robotic systems exhibit limitations in haptic feedback, surgical compatibility, and operational complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the development status and key technical aspects of intravascular interventional surgical robotics.
• To identify current challenges and future research directions in the field.
• To provide insights into the evolution of robotic assistance in vascular interventions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted for original articles on remote vascular interventional surgery robotics published up to December 2020.
• 113 English-language articles were included in the review.
• The review analyzed mechanical, structural, and functional characteristics of existing systems.

Main Results:

• The review details the mechanical and structural features of various vascular interventional surgical robots.
• Current systems' capabilities in force sensing, haptic feedback, and control methods are discussed.
• Emerging frontiers such as autonomous surgery, 5G-enabled remote telesurgery, and MRI-compatible structures are summarized.

Conclusions:

• Vascular interventional surgery robotics offer significant potential despite current limitations.
• Future prospects include advancements in AI, 5G integration, and enhanced robotic capabilities for remote and autonomous procedures.
• Continued research is crucial for developing more effective and versatile robotic systems for vascular interventions.