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Evaluation of a novel flexible snake robot for endoluminal surgery

  • Endoluminal Surgery
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Endoluminal therapeutic procedures such as endoscopic submucosal dissection are increasingly attractive given the shift in surgical paradigm towards minimally invasive surgery. This novel three-channel articulated robot was developed to overcome the limitations of the flexible endoscope which poses a number of challenges to endoluminal surgery. The device enables enhanced movement in a restricted workspace, with improved range of motion and with the accuracy required for endoluminal surgery.

Objective

To evaluate a novel flexible robot for therapeutic endoluminal surgery.

Design

Bench-top studies.

Setting

Research laboratory.

Intervention

Targeting and navigation tasks of the robot were performed to explore the range of motion and retroflexion capabilities. Complex endoluminal tasks such as endoscopic mucosal resection were also simulated.

Main outcome measurements

Successful completion, accuracy and time to perform the bench-top tasks were the main outcome measures.

Results

The robot ranges of movement, retroflexion and navigation capabilities were demonstrated. The device showed significantly greater accuracy of targeting in a retroflexed position compared to a conventional endoscope.

Limitations

Bench-top study and small study sample.

Conclusions

We were able to demonstrate a number of simulated endoscopy tasks such as navigation, targeting, snaring and retroflexion. The improved accuracy of targeting whilst in a difficult configuration is extremely promising and may facilitate endoluminal surgery which has been notoriously challenging with a conventional endoscope.

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Abbreviations

ESD:

Endoscopic submucosal dissection

GOJ:

Gastro-oesophageal junction

DoF:

Degrees of freedom

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by a Wellcome Trust grant (P13145).

Disclosures

Dr Nisha Patel, Mr Carlo A Seneci, Dr Jianzhong Shang, Konrad Leibrandt, Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, Professor Lord Ara Darzi of Denham and Professor Julian Teare have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Hamlyn Centre, Institute of Global Health Innovation, St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Nisha Patel, Carlo A. Seneci, Jianzhong Shang, Konrad Leibrandt, Guang-Zhong Yang, Ara Darzi & Julian Teare

  2. Department of Surgery and Cancer, St. Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK

    Nisha Patel, Ara Darzi & Julian Teare

Authors
  1. Nisha Patel
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  2. Carlo A. Seneci
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  3. Jianzhong Shang
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  4. Konrad Leibrandt
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  5. Guang-Zhong Yang
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  6. Ara Darzi
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  7. Julian Teare
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nisha Patel.

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Patel, N., Seneci, C.A., Shang, J. et al. Evaluation of a novel flexible snake robot for endoluminal surgery. Surg Endosc 29, 3349–3355 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4088-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-015-4088-y

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