A ROBOTIC CAMERA FOR LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY - CONCEPTION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

The aim of this project was to replace the surgical assistant for comm on laparoscopic procedures with a robotic camera. The motions of the h uman camera operator were defined and expressed mathematically by a sp herical displacement model. A revolving robotic arm with six degrees o f freedom was employed in conjunction with this model as an automated camera in the performance of cholecystectomy, Taylor and Nissen proced ures in animals, and cholecystectomy in humans. It represents a first step toward the introduction of robotic technology in laparoscopic sur gery.