Analyse du besoin en assistance robotique dans la chirurgie de l'oreille

TL;DR

This paper investigates the specific needs for robotic assistance in ear surgery, highlighting the limitations of current devices and the potential for autonomous endoscope control to improve surgical procedures.

Contribution

It identifies the gap in robotic systems that can autonomously direct endoscopes, proposing a focus on developing assistance tools tailored for otological surgery.

Findings

Current robots lack autonomous endoscope control.

Surgeons need devices that free both hands during surgery.

Identified specific requirements for otological robotic assistance.

Abstract

Otologic surgery has some specificities compared to others surgeries. The anatomic working space is small, with various anatomical structures to preserve, like ossicles or facial nerve. This requires the use of microscope or endoscope. The microscope let the surgeon use both hands, but allows only direct vision. The endoscope leaves only one hand to the surgeon to use his tools, but provides a "fish-eye" vision. The rise of endoscopy these past few years has led to the development of numerous devices for the surgeon: the Robotol, first otological robot designed to performed some movements and hold an endoscope, or the Endofix Exo. Both devices need the hand of the surgeon to be moved. No robotic device allows the endoscope to be directed autonomously while the surgeon keeps both hands free to work, just like when he is working with a microscope. The objective of our work is to define the specific needs of the otological assistance surgery.