Clinical Feasibility of Robot-Assisted Pulmonary Resection Using a Platform Incorporating Haptic Feedback

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of anatomical pulmonary resection using the Saroa surgical system (Riverfield Inc), a pneumatically driven robotic platform incorporating haptic feedback.

The system estimates grasping force and conveys it to the surgeon as resistive force opposing hand controller closure. During early adoption at a single institution, anatomical pulmonary resections were selectively performed in patients with clinical N0 lung cancer, metastatic tumors, or benign diseases.

Twenty-three patients underwent Saroa-assisted anatomical pulmonary resection. The mean operative and console times were 252 ± 51 and 157 ± 52 minutes, respectively. One case required conversion to thoracotomy. The mean postoperative drainage duration and hospital stay were 1.6 ± 1.1 and 6.7 ± 2.3 days, respectively. Complications occurred in 3 patients (13%). Force-log data were available for 16 cases; the mean grasping force was 1.30 ± 0.20 N with a within-case variability of 0.78 ± 0.08 N. These values fall within the lower range of forces linked to increasing lung tissue injury in the preclinical study.

Anatomical pulmonary resection using the Saroa system was feasible and safely performed during early clinical use. These findings provide foundational data for future multicenter evaluation.