The mechanical master-slave manipulator: an instrument improving the performance in standardized tasks for endoscopic surgery

J. Diks, J. E. N. Jaspers*, W. Wisselink, B. A. M. J. de Mol, C. A. Grimbergen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a mechanical minimally invasive manipulator for endoscopic surgery. In contrast to currently available motorized master-slave manipulators, this mechanical manipulator consists of two purely mechanical, hand-controlled endoscopic arms with joints that allow seven degrees of freedom (DOF).

Methods: For the study, 30 medical students performed four different tasks in a pelvic trainer box using either two conventional endoscopic needleholders or a set of mechanical manipulators. The exercise consisted of four different tasks: repositioning of coins, rope passing, passing of a suture through rings, and tying of a surgical knot. All experiments were recorded on videotape (S-VHS), and the data were analyzed afterwards by an independent observer using a quantitative time-action analysis.

Results: A significant difference in the number of total actions (including failures) favoring the mechanical manipulator group was shown in most exercises. A significant difference in failures per task was shown in favor of the mechanical manipulator group as well. There was no significant difference shown in the total time per exercise.

Conclusions: The tasks clearly demonstrated the efficacy of the mechanical manipulator, although some technical flaws emerged during the experiments. Considering the fact that a first prototype of the mechanical manipulator was tested, modifications are to be expected in a next model. These experiments show the potential of the mechanical manipulator, and it is expected to be a competitive and economical instrument for endoscopic surgery in the near future.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1025-1031
Number of pages7
JournalSurgical Endoscopy
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2007

Keywords

  • master-slave surgery
  • surgical skills
  • mechanical manipulator
  • minimally invasive manipulator
  • ASSISTED LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY
  • AORTOBIFEMORAL BYPASS
  • OCCLUSIVE DISEASE
  • ROBOT
  • FEASIBILITY
  • EXPERIENCE

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