SmartArm: Suturing Feasibility of a Surgical Robotic System on a Neonatal Chest Model

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the feasibility of using the SmartArm robotic system for suturing in neonatal surgery models, highlighting its potential for minimally invasive procedures on fragile neonate tissues.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of the SmartArm robotic system for neonatal suturing, demonstrating feasibility in a realistic neonatal chest model.

Findings

Inexperienced operators can perform suturing with the robotic system.

The system successfully executed two-throw knots in a neonatal model.

Feasibility shown for robotic-assisted neonatal minimally invasive surgery.

Abstract

Commercially available surgical-robot technology currently addresses many surgical scenarios for adult patients. This same technology cannot be used to the benefit of neonate patients given the considerably smaller workspace. Medically relevant procedures regarding neonate patients include minimally invasive surgery to repair congenital esophagus disorders, which entail the suturing of the fragile esophagus within the narrow neonate cavity. In this work, we explore the use of the SmartArm robotic system in a feasibility study using a neonate chest and esophagus model. We show that a medically inexperienced operator can perform two-throw knots inside the neonate chest model using the robotic system.