State of the Art and Key Design Challenges of Telesurgical Robotics

Telesurgical robotic systems allow surgeons to perform surgical operations from remote locations with enhanced comfort and dexterity. Introduction of robotic technology has revolutionized operation theaters but its multidisciplinary nature and high associated costs pose significant challenges. This chapter provides a comprehensive survey of the current progress in the field of surgical robotics with a detailed discussion on various state-of-the-art telesurgical robotic systems. The key design approaches and challenges are identified, and their solutions are recommended. A set of parameters that can be used to assess usefulness of a telesurgical robot are discussed. Finally, guidelines for selection of a suitable surgical system and the future research directions are described.