Description of robots

Robots occupy a special place in the human imagination and a pivotal role in our everyday lives. There is a large gap between the artificial intelligence model about which we fantasize and the task-oriented systems that dominate manufacturing. Surgical robots represent a unique type of robotic system: one that is directed in real time by human hands. This type of interface is ideal for surgery because it combines the executive functions of the surgeon’s mind with the precision of a machine. The currently available robotic platform is the da Vinci, from Intuitive Surgical. It is composed of two integrated subsystems: a surgeon’s console and a patient side cart. The surgeon controls the patient side cart remotely, using two hand-operated mechanisms that reside within the console. Advantages include enhanced precision in the form of motion scaling and tremor elimination and improved vision in the form of high-resolution, three-dimensional optics. Robotic applications have developed in many of the surgical subspecialties. As robotic technology continues to advance and more diverse and specialize systems become available, robotic surgery promises to play a larger role in the future of surgery.