Choice of handedness and automated suturing for anthropomorphic dual-arm surgical robots

Abstract

SUMMARYLaparoscopic and Single Port Access Surgery (SPAS) present unique dexterity challenges related to dual-arm operations in confined spaces and tele-manipulation of highly dexterous surgical slaves. In an effort to reduce tele-manipulation burden, new paradigms for semi-automating surgical tasks are needed. This paper presents a new minimal constraint suturing and automated choice of handedness for anthropomorphic dual-arm robots. The automated choice of handedness supports surgeons during tele-manipulation of complex robotic slaves where dexterity and workspace constraints are difficult to learn. This criterion is also used to support automated dual-arm rendezvous for quicker suture exchange during dual-arm suturing. The minimal constraint algorithm presented in this paper allows surgeons to operate within a shared-control tele-manipulation framework whereby the surgeon controls the needle insertion speed and the robot controls the needle orientation while respecting a minimalistic set of tissue constraints. This framework is evaluated on a novel insertable robotic end-effectors platform for SPAS. A simulation study demonstrates the effectiveness of the automated choice of handedness criterion through a study of dexterity limitations of each arm. Additional simulations show the proposed algorithm for automated rendezvous and suture exchange.

Optimal needle grasp selection for automatic execution of suturing tasks in robotic minimally invasive surgery

“…A recent work by Ding et al [14] has demonstrated the automation of surgical suturing by using dual-arm snake surgical robots. They used a minimal constraint suturing trajectory which allows the robot to have more dexterity by adjusting the orientations of the needle during insertion through tissue.…”