Systematic review on visual aid technologies for surgical assistant robotic devices.

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Surgical Technology
• Computer Vision

Background:

• Modern surgical procedures increasingly incorporate robotic systems for enhanced precision and minimally invasive approaches.
• The integration of visual feedback is critical for the autonomous functionality and safety of these advanced robotic platforms.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of vision system roles across diverse surgical assistant robotic configurations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive review of current literature on the inclusion of visual aids in various surgical assistant robotic systems.
• To analyze the technical contributions, advantages, and limitations of vision systems in robotic surgery.
• To provide a prospective outlook on future research and development in vision-guided robotic surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search and analysis of technical and scientific sources focusing on robotic surgery with vision systems.
• Categorization of reviewed studies based on robot configuration, end-effector type, vision system employed, and control strategies.
• Evaluation of studies where vision systems significantly influenced the surgical procedure, irrespective of feedback type (position or force).

Main Results:

• Vision systems play a significant role in enabling automatic operations in advanced surgical robotic systems.
• Key contributions, advantages, and shortcomings of vision system implementation in surgical robotics were critically assessed.
• The review identified diverse applications of vision systems across different robotic configurations and control schemes.

Conclusions:

• Vision systems are integral to the current and future development of surgical robotic systems, enhancing automation and procedural accuracy.
• Continued research in vision aids is expected to make them a standard component of future surgical interventions.
• Understanding the technological implementation challenges and benefits is crucial for advancing robotic surgery.