Robotics and telecommunication systems to provide better access to ultrasound expertise in the OR

Surgery has begun to evolve as a result of the intense use of technological innovations. The result of this is better services for patients and enormo us opportunities for the producers of biomedical instruments. The surgeon a nd the technologist are fast becoming allies in applying the latest develop ments of robotics, image treatment, simulation, sensors and telecommunicati ons to surgery, in particular to the emerging field of minimally-invasive s urgery. Ultrasonography is at present utilised both for diagnostic and ther apeutic purposes in various fields. Intraoperative US examination can be of primary importance, especially when dealing with space-occupying lesions. The widening use of minimally-invasive surgery has furthered the developmen t of US for use during this type of surgery. The success of a US examinatio n requires not only a correct execution of the procedure, but also a correc t interpretation of the images. We describe two projects that combine robot ics and telecommunication systems to provide better access to US expertise in the operating room. The Midstep project has as its object the realisatio n of two robotic arms, one for the distant control of the US probe during l aparoscopic surgery and the second to perform tele-interventional US. The s econd project, part of the Strategic CNR Project - 'Robotics in Surgery', i nvolves the realisation of a common platform for tracking and targeting sur gical instruments in video-assisted surgery.