Intelligent Robot for Eye Surgery

Researcher Thijs Meenink at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), has developed an intelligent robot to perform surgery, which allows the eye surgeon operated on the eye with ease. This Eye-RHAS (Robot For Haptically Assisted Surgery) can enhance greater precision in the retina and vitreous humor. These systems also streamline the work, when physicians perform complex procedures.

Eye surgery such as repair the retina, or treat the retina loose, demanding high precision. In many cases, surgeons can perform this operation only for a limited part of their job. The robot consists of the "master" and "slave". Ophthalmologists from the master control using two joysticks. The Master was developed in a previous PhD project at TU/e by Dr. Ir. Ron Hendrix. Needles, such as small instruments on the robotic arm has a diameter of only 0.5 millimeters, and including forceps, surgical scissors, and waterways. This robot is designed in such a way that the point where the needle enters the eye is always in the same location, to prevent damage to the delicate structures of the eye.

Thijs Meenink's robotic eye surgery system. (Picture from: http://www.gizmag.com/)

Meenink has designed a unique instrument-changer that allows for the slave robot arm robot capable of changing the instrument. Movement surgeon is a scaled-down, for example, so that every centimeter of motion in the joy-stick movement translates into only one millimeter at the end of the instrument. "It increases the precision of movement," said Meenink. Robot masters also provide feedback. Meenink robot can measure small forces, which are then amplified and sent to the joystick. This allows the surgeon to feel the effects of their actions, which also contribute to the accuracy of the procedure.

The system developed by Meenink and Hendrix also offer ergonomic benefits. While surgeons at this time, the static bending over the patient. They will soon be able to operate the robot, in a comfortable sitting position. In addition, the slave robot is so compact and lightweight which easily brought to the operating table.

Ophthalmologist Dr. Prof. Marc de Smet (AMC Amsterdam), one Meenink PhD supervisor, very enthusiastic about using the latest eye surgical robotic system. Not only because it offers savings in time, but also the limits of manual procedures have now been achieved. "Development of a robotic eye surgery is the next step in the evolution of microstructures in ophthalmology. And will lead, on the development of new procedures are more precise," said de Smet.

Thijs Meenink and his robotic eye surgery system. (Picture from: http://www.gizmag.com/)

Meenink intend to optimize the function of the robot in the near future. The first surgery in humans, is expected in the first five years. He also planned, to investigate market opportunities for robotic systems. Robot eye surgery is a new development, but the eye that required surgical robots are not yet available in the market.

Ophthalmologists at The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Hospital reported accident cases handled by the new equipment advanced robotic surgical eye. The results are very satisfactory and then published in Eye Journal. *** [GIZMAG | DEDI RISKOMAR | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 19012012]