Robotic platforms are rapidly advancing surgery, delivering innovations that promise to revolutionize the industry and improve patient outcomes. The combination of technology and human ingenuity is creating new standards for safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in the operating room, and clinical evidence is continuing to grow.
A 2021 report that compared robotic-assisted laparoscopic (RALS) procedures with traditional approaches to abdominopelvic surgeries showed robotics did not provide a clear advantage, despite some modest benefits. Advancements in the short time since that report, however, have positioned the next generation of robotic surgical devices to impact patient outcomes like never before.
Specifically, next-generation robotic platforms have made a significant leap forward with real-time data analysis and intraoperative feedback. They have instilled a new confidence in surgical decisions while helping to minimize the potential for error during surgery.
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A brief history of surgical robotics
The first robotic systems aimed to enhance surgeons’ capabilities by increasing their precision and control, but early devices failed to substantially improve patient outcomes over traditional methods. By continuing to iterate, technology developers have added increased range of motion, enhanced dexterity, and improved ergonomics for surgeons, allowing them to perform complex maneuvers with greater ease.
Medicine has proven slow to adopt a range of technologies in the digital age (including the digitization of medical records and replacing fax machines), and robotics proved no different. Robotic systems’ high upfront cost, maintenance, and their requisite training dampened adoption rates for even the most ardent of believers. Millions of procedures are performed in the U.S. annually, but only a small fraction utilize robotic assistance.
Recently, though, the leaps and bounds made by the innovation community have changed that landscape. The advancements in robotic technology have resulted in a growing body of clinical evidence that – for the first time – shows measurable enhancement. As more procedures occur, the strength of that clinical evidence has driven increased interest and adoption. We now have good reason to believe that robotic surgery will become more commonplace as the technology adoption leads to further development and additional training programs around the world for a new generation of digitally-enabled surgeons.
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Stepping into the modern age of surgery
The automotive industry offers a prime example of how digital interfaces can augment a traditionally mechanical experience. Advancements such as rear-view cameras, blind spot monitoring, lane departure sensors, GPS services, and even self-driving capabilities have made navigating the roadways safer and more efficient. According to the United States Department of Transportation, car safety technologies saved over 600,000 lives between 1960 and 2012.
Enhancing robotic-assisted surgeries with integrated digital features could help to achieve a similar outcome. Emerging digital tools have the potential to enhance operating room efficiency and improve patient safety by supporting data-driven decisions and techniques. The added safety features of a car assist the driver without replacing them entirely, just as digital tools in surgery aid surgeons without replacing them.
Enhancing surgical outcomes with advanced robotics
Modern robotic platforms are already impacting operating rooms around the globe, helping surgeons avoid preventable errors and improving operating room efficiency. They are equipping surgeons with analytical, safety, and training toolkit technologies.
Surgical complications remain a significant challenge, but we’ve seen that advanced robotic integration can enhance standardization and consistency with positive outcomes. By providing a digital interface that augments the surgeon’s capabilities, these platforms can transform the way we perform surgeries.
Since the advent of robotic platforms in surgery, many have questioned whether they can truly enhance patient outcomes. For the first time, the emerging generation of devices shows that improving outcomes could be attainable through robotic technology featuring digitized interfaces and ad
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As VP of Medical Affairs and Professional Education, Dr. Ed Chekan leads the company’s clinical, training and education, and scientific matters. Prior to joining Asensus, Dr. Chekan held positions in Medical Affairs within Ethicon Endosurgery and Teleflex. He worked as a consultant for several strategic and start up medical device companies where he led training and education programs and developed new products. Dr. Chekan completed his minimally invasive surgery fellowship at Duke University, is certified in General Surgery by the American Board of Surgery and holds an adjunctive position within the Duke Department of Surgery.
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