Scientists are creating a new high-precision, sensor-based surgical robot that can help carry out spinal operations.
The project, "Towards Intelligent Sensor-enhanced Robotic Neurosurgery", is led by Dr Andreas Raabe from the Department of Neurosurgery at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.
Dr Raabe said: "For the first time, the neurosurgeon has real-time data on where the drilling instrument is during the procedure and the surgical robot acts with supreme accuracy shutting down the drilling far sooner that a human operator could, thereby avoiding breakthrough or injury.
"This means potentially zero morbidity procedures with respect to pedicle screw misplacement. We see this as the future of spine surgery".
The scientists collaborated with experts in electronics and microtechnology, with funding of two million Swiss francs from the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Commission for Technology and Innovation.
They explain that spine stabilisation surgery is one of the most common and increasing back surgeries performed because of degenerative spine disease.
With sensor-enabled surgical robotic drilling technology, the variability of the vertebrae becomes less problematic than at present, the developers say. The robotic drill can "feel" across the bone terrain and use electromyography (EMG) neuro monitoring to avoid obstacles such as nerves.
Researcher Dr Olivier Chetelat says: "The use of EMG as a cross check control loop to give early warning on the proximity of nerve tissue and the overall integration of a sensor-driven surgical robotic system is a ground-breaking use of this technology in neurosurgery and will lead to many other clinical applications going forward."
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