Breadboard testing of the prototype components has shown spatial resolution of 30 microm, greatly exceeding our expectations. Neurosurgeons will not only be able to perform current procedures with a higher margin of safety but also must speculate on techniques that have hitherto not even been contemplated. This includes coupling the robot to intelligent tools that interrogate tissue before its manipulation and the potential of molecular imaging to transform neurosurgical research into surgical exploration of the cell, not the organ.
Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsies are an accurate, but technically challenging, method for screening and diagnosis of breast lesions.This study assesses the safety and efficacy of an Image Guided Automated Robot (IGAR) in performing breast biopsies compared to manual procedures.Methods: Safety was determined from adverse events (AEs) and device deficiencies.Efficacy was assessed using targeting accuracy, number of successful biopsies, pain and scar scores, patient discomfort, and radiologist-determined ease-of-use.Results: All seven procedures in phase I were successfully and safely completed with no AEs and one device deficiency. The 23 IGAR biopsies in phase II outperformed the 18 manual biopsies in 1-week pain scores (p = 0.027), scarring at 1week (p = 0.035), 1-month (p = 0.004), and components of comfort and ease-of-use.Phase II had seven and three AEs in the IGAR and manual groups, respectively (p = 0.317), with no serious AEs and nine device deficiencies.
Conclusions:The IGAR system is safe and effective for breast biopsy procedures.The results from these trials indicate the IGAR system as a potentially viable alternative to manual breast biopsy procedures.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.