2005 SAGES Abstracts

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY LUNCH POSTER ABSTRACTS
SAGES 2005
wrist freedom.
Laparoscopy is associated with a stressing position, with high
elbows and contracted back muscles. With ergonomic handles,
the hands and arms of the surgeon are relaxed, avoiding discomfort
and fatigue.
Description of the technology:
Manual manipulators represent a new class of endoscopic
devices, positioned between conventional instruments and
robotic systems.
Radius Surgical System is a mechanical bi-manual instrument
system (produced by Tuebingen Scientific, it received the CE
mark in October 2003) with 6 DOF (such as in robotic surgery)
and an ergonomic hand-arm movement and position, that can
be used as simple as a conventional endoscopic instrument.
The tip of the intrument can be deflected and rotated, a variety
of interchangeable effectors can be used for the specific surgical
tasks. All functions can be operated via a multi-functional
ergonomic handle.
Preliminary available results:
The device is currently under surgical investigation in partnership
with some leading groups worldwide. We report
the results of an experimental study evaluating the learning
curve of the instrument, with three groups of participants,
demonstrating that the learning curve is not highly complex,
and improvement is achieved in all groups our preliminary
clinical applications in bariatric surgery and abdominal hernia
repair.
Conclusions/Future directions.
Advantages of Radius are:
Six DOF, with ergonomic hand-arm movements.
Alignment of the instrument tip in difficult access angles.
Versatility by simple change of endo effectors and compatibility
to normal laparoscopic OR setting, with no additional set-up
time required;
Cost effectiveness: Radius is a surgical manipulator system
that will be priced as a hand-guided instrument system, at a
hundredth of the price of electronic robots.
Current problems are:
Precise and controlled needle guidance still to be improved;
Limited number of tips: new effectors soon available
More efficient when suturing in a small space, on the perpendicular
axis.
Ergonomic advantages can be better appreciated after an intuitive
learning curve to control the instrument most effectively.
Procedures that benefit of the Radius are those with maneuvers
and suturing in recesses, like:Fundoplication; Prosthetic
fixation; Bariatrics; Radical prostatectomy; IMA – take down.
Key words: ergonomy – manipulators – laparoscopy – DOF
250 http://www.sages.org/