Multidisciplinary Expert Perspectives on a Conceptual Autonomous Mini Surgical Robot for Gynecological Procedures: An...

Background/Objectives: Successful implementation of autonomous surgical technologies requires not only engineering innovation but also early evaluation of clinical usability, patient safety, workflow integration, and stakeholder acceptance. Although autonomous robotic systems are expected to transform minimally invasive surgery, evidence regarding their implementation in gynecological practice remains limited. This study explored multidisciplinary expert perspectives on the clinical implementation, safety, usability, workflow integration, and future adoption of an autonomous mini surgical robot concept designed for intrauterine polyp resection and tubal ligation. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with 10 experts (3 gynecologists, 2 anesthesiologists, 2 women's health nurses, and 3 engineers). Participants evaluated the proposed concept through open-ended questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. Results: Six implementation-oriented themes were identified: clinical value, patient safety and human oversight, technology readiness, clinical workflow integration, future adoption and scalability, and ethical governance. Participants considered the proposed concept to have the potential to improve procedural precision and standardization while emphasizing that successful implementation would require physician supervision, rigorous safety validation, integration into existing clinical workflows, multidisciplinary collaboration, professional training, and appropriate ethical and regulatory oversight. Clinicians primarily emphasized patient safety and usability, whereas engineers focused on technological optimization and AI integration. Conclusions: This exploratory qualitative study provides preliminary insights into multidisciplinary expert perspectives on the future implementation of autonomous mini surgical robots in gynecology. The findings may help inform future technology development, implementation planning, and subsequent prototype-based clinical research.