FEATURE Medical
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Robots in the operating theatre Simon Jenkins from Stäubli takes a look at the latest developments and advances in the company’s medical robots T
he world of robotics grows ever larger and more diverse as the capability and fl exibility of the technology advance, opening up
new applications. The use of robots within manufacturing industry is well established and even taken for granted. Today, it is not uncommon to fi nd robots within the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors. However, the technology has now reached the stage where robots are not only manufacturing the medicines but also assisting surgeons in medical interventions.
Stäubli Robotics has for many years continued to develop robots for life science applications and, today, its robots are recognised as setting the benchmark for hygiene and safety. Whenever accuracy is a requirement, together with factors such as low particle emissions and easy-clean surfaces, Stäubli has long led the way. The company developed a unique solution that meets several constraints in patient care. The medical robots range has been specially adapted to be the perfect partner in patient care, addressing the specifi c demands within these high compliance and complex applications, whilst ensuring consistent performance, safety, reliability and accuracy. Today, Stäubli robots help to relieve doctors of some of the strain they are under whilst performing operations that demand their full concentration. Its robots are also contributing to the development of innovative surgical techniques. For robots to interact with surgeons in the operating theatre and perform medical tasks, they must operate at the highest levels of safety. They are eff ectively working in collaboration with the surgeon and other medical staff . Stäubli robots use a unique set of modular SIL3-PLe safety functions including safe stop, speed, zone, and more. The latest TX2/CS9 systems are designed for collaborative applications with the highest levels of safety. In addition, reliable stopping and braking performance is ensured by a system-embedded brake test. Medical and patient care applications
also require the highest levels of cleanliness and the company’s TX2 range of robots has a smooth, white,
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high-quality fi nish with sector-specifi c surface preparation. This means that these robots are capable of meeting ISO Class 2 cleanroom standards, which demands fewer than 11 particles greater than 0.3 microns and no particles greater than 1.0 microns per cubic metre. The Stericlean range of H₂O₂-compliant robots also off ers protection up to IP67 level.
Robots in clinical interventions Stäubli has been a key player in a series of collaborations and partnerships in recent years, which has seen the company’s robots working alongside doctors and surgeons in many ways.
Based in San Sebastian, Spain, Cyber
Surgery has developed a robotic system for spinal procedures. The solution guides the surgeon, making the procedure safer, more accurate and minimally-invasive. The three main benefi ts of this system are: a reduction in re-interventions due to the levels of accuracy provided by the robot, shorter post-operative time in hospital because the surgery is performed in a minimally- invasive way, producing less damage to soft tissues and subsequent bleeding, and reduced X-ray exposure thanks to the robot providing a guide for the surgeon. The RoboticScope, developed in 2016 by
BHS Technologies in Innsbruck comprises a high-precision robot, a high-resolution 3D camera and an innovative head-mounted display (HMD). Using these technologies, the surgeon looks directly into the operating fi eld.
The two digital micro-displays integrated
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within the HMD directly in front of the surgeon’s eyes show high-resolution, real- time 3D images relayed by the dual camera lenses mounted on the robot head. The position of the robot determines the visible image, allowing the surgeon to operate in a freely selectable and completely relaxed head position. The surgeon retains control over the exact image fi eld and viewing angle, automatically steering the robot with contact-free head movements. Using this method, the surgeon can select the viewing angle of the 8x zoom lenses and even control a sophisticated menu from the micro-display, allowing activation and control of further functions. Some 500 surgeons around the world have now used the RoboticScope, and the device is so intuitive that more than 90% of users master it within ten minutes. The robot technology behind the RoboticScope is a high-precision Stäubli TX2-60L robot which delivers precise and jerk-free motion sequences of the RoboticScope. As with the entire range of the latest 6-axis robots, the enclosed structure allows for a protection class of IP65, with the wrist being IP67-compliant. With cleanroom class ISO 5 as standard, the robot allows BHS to also save on the potential extra costs of upgrading to a cleanroom version.
CONTACT:
Stäubli
www.staubli.com
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