Robot-assisted surgery
that trainees can train to a high degree of proficiency without needing access to the robot from the outset. When I was a trainee and laparoscopic surgery first emerged, I trained on a box until I was totally proficient. It becomes very difficult to say ‘no’ to trainees, once they have perfected all the eye/hand movements and coordination, along with the theory – then, all they need to do is to convert to performing robot-assisted surgery on a human.” Mark added that if healthcare providers can
ensure staff reach proficiency quicker, through robotics training programmes, it will drive up standards and achieve lower complications. “The approach is similar to a pilot simulation.
Simulation training is harder to implement in medicine, but we have to head in this direction, and we need to set up a structure. Robotic companies need to get together and outline the basics – to agree a certain number of hours per week are required in a simulator, and to agree a certain level of proficiency metrics,” Mark continued. He added that one of the advantages of
laparoscopy and robotics is the ability to use video to establish proficiency. The system can tell the difference between a novice and an expert with 99.9% accuracy – just by the way they move their hands.
Advancing innovation Throughout the development of Versius, Co- Founders Luke Hares and Mark Slack have sought to be innovative in every aspect of their thinking. This was recently recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in April 2023. “One of the things we’re very proud of as a
company is that we are harnessing a variety of digital components to make the system safer and the training better. Surgeon’s get a printout every month of their results, the complication rate and how they compare with other surgeons doing the same type of surgery. It’s not just about the surgery,” Mark commented. “We have many more ideas at CMR. Luke and I get together once every few weeks,
and brainstorm together. We have a whole roadmap of things that we want to add to the system, using more digital offerings to advance surgery – from machine learning, and artificial intelligence, to different visual aids, such as integrated fluorescence cameras (ICG). “Ultimately, we are on a mission to redefine
the surgical robotics market with practical, innovative technology and data that can improve surgical care,” he concluded.
CSJ
References 1. Figures cited by GlobalData, accessed at:
https://medical-technology.nridigital.com/ medical_technology_nov23/robotic_surgical_
systems_market_displaying_continued_growth
2. Verified Market Research. (2021, October). Global surgical robots market size by component (surgical systems, accessories and services), by surgery type (gynecological surgery, urological surgery, neurosurgery), by geographic scope and forecast, EUR Urol, Journal of Endourology, BMJ
3. Mark Monahan et al., Surgical site infection and costs in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review of the economic burden. June 2020
4. Association of Surgeons in Training (ASIT) Survey on Medical Students’ Attitudes Towards Robotic Surgery (2000)
One of the things we’re very proud of as a company is that we are harnessing a variety of digital components to make the system safer and the training better. Surgeon’s get a printout every month of their results, the complication rate and how they compare with other surgeons doing the same type of surgery. It’s not just
about the surgery. Mark Slack, CMR Surgical
22
www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I February 2024
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